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Press Release

Seven people from Northeast Ohio indicted for conspiracy to distribute carfentanil, fentanyl, heroin and cocaine

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Ohio

Seven people from Northeast Ohio were indicted in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute carfentanil, fentanyl, heroin and cocaine.

Named in the 18-count indictment are: Aaron Reels, 52, of Cleveland; Donnell Bell, 40, of Twinsburg; Henry Williams, 45, of Shaker Heights; William Wheat, Jr., 35, of Cleveland; Andre Thompson, 39, of Brook Park; Otha Short, 66, of Cleveland, and Carl Mileca, 74, of Cleveland.

According to the indictment:

Reels purchased drugs from Bell, Wheat, Williams and others. Reels then sold the drugs for profit to Thompson, Short, Mileca and others.

This took place between September 2017 and April 2018.

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

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Lake County Narcotics Agency, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Euclid Police Department, Cleveland Heights Police Department, Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Cleveland Division of Police and Twinsburg Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa T. Darden.

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

Contact

Mike Tobin
216.622.3651
michael.tobin@usdoj.gov

Updated December 13, 2018

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Opioids