Salem Pair Faces Drug And Money Laundering Charges

Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland, Ohio, returned a six-count indictment charging Charles S. Wilson, Jr., age 40, and Sandra R. Wilson, age 42, both of Salem, Ohio, with conspiracy; cultivation and distribution of marijuana; possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of marijuana; maintaining a residence for the purpose of distributing marijuana; conspiracy to launder money and money laundering.

The indictment charges that beginning at least as early as June 2013, and continuing through September 2013, the Wilsons conspired with each other and diverse others to manufacture (cultivate) and possess with intent to distribute marijuana.  As part of the conspiracy, the Wilsons cultivated more than 100 marijuana plants which they knowingly and intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute.  The indictment further charges that the Wilsons maintained a residence in Salem, Ohio, for the purpose of cultivating and distributing the marijuana.

The Wilsons are also charged with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, and one count of engaging in a financial transaction using proceeds of marijuana trafficking.

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including each of the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, each of the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations.  In all cases, the sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration.  The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David M. Toepfer.

An indictment in 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.