Last of 8 sentenced in Sandusky area drug trafficking operation

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that the final member of a drug trafficking organization operating primarily in the city of Sandusky was sentenced for his role in the conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge Jack Zouhary sentenced Patrick Brown, age 39, of Sandusky to 14 years imprisonment after Brown pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances.

Brown and seven other defendants were charged in a 17-count indictment on June 26, 2019, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and one defendant, Darrius Martin, as a felon in possession of ammunition.

“This group of men will now face serious time behind bars for thinking they could bring deadly opioids and cocaine into Sandusky and make a quick profit,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Drug trafficking organizations like this one believe they can operate in communities like Sandusky and go undetected. Let these sentences show that this is not the case. If you traffic drugs in communities like Sandusky and elsewhere in the Northern District, you will be arrested and will serve time in prison.”

 “This sentence should serve as a message to drug dealers that they will be held accountable for their crimes,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin.

“I would like to thank DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their cooperation and collaboration in making the city of Sandusky a safer place for our citizens,” said retired city of Sandusky Police Chief John Orzech.

Previously sentenced in this matter were:

• Siron Mills, age 42, of Sandusky. Mills was sentenced to ten years imprisonment and eight years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances.
• Gregory Boswell, age 45, of Cleveland. Boswell was sentenced to eight years imprisonment and eight years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances.
• Daryl Castile, age 50, of Sandusky. Castile was sentenced to eight years imprisonment and eight years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances.
• Timothy Johnson, age 41, of Sandusky. Johnson was sentenced to five years imprisonment and five years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances and possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.
• Jon Lippert, age 39, of Sandusky. Lippert was sentenced to three years imprisonment and five years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances.
• Darrius Martin, age 28, of Sandusky. Martin was sentenced to six years imprisonment and five years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances and felon in possession of ammunition.
• Eugene Nicholson, age 50, of Sandusky. Nicholson was sentenced to ten years imprisonment and eight years supervised release after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances.

From April 2017 through June 2019, Patrick Brown and the other named co-conspirators obtained large quantities of heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine from various suppliers outside the city and worked together to distribute the drugs throughout the Sandusky area.

Siron Mills would obtain heroin from Daryl Castile and cocaine from suppliers in Columbus. Brown would then obtain his cocaine from Mills and Gregory Boswell. After securing their narcotics, members of the drug trafficking organization would work together, often using cell phones registered to fictitious names to conduct their activity. The organization used various residences and vehicles in the Sandusky and Cleveland areas to store, break down, package and distribute their drugs. 

As a result of these charges, nearly $40,000 in cash, several firearms and ammunition were forfeited. 

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Sandusky Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alissa M. Sterling and Ashley A. Futrell. Assistant United States Attorney James Morford assisted with the forfeiture.