Garfield Heights Man Faces Heroin And Firearms Charges

An eight-count indictment was filed today charging a Garfield Heights man with distributing heroin and illegally possessing a firearm, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Deion Thompson, 27, also known as Sino Grams, was indicted on six counts of distribution of heroin, one count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

“This defendant sold heroin on our streets and had a gun despite being prohibited from having one,” Dettelbach said. “We will continue to work to reduce the supply of drugs in our neighborhoods while working with other partners to reduce demand.”

Thompson made multiple sales of heroin in June and July. On July 7, he possessed 66 grams of heroin and a 9 mm Browning pistol, despite prior convictions in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, including drug trafficking offenses with a schoolyard specification, having weapons under disability and failure to comply with a police order, according to the indictment.

This case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry F. DeBaggis following an investigation by the Southeast Law Enforcement Task Force, a collaboration of police departments including Bedford, Bedford Heights, Garfield Heights, Maple Heights, Solon, Oakwood and Walton Hills.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after a review of the federal sentencing guidelines and factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record , the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt