Skip to main content
Press Release

Ten individuals arrested and charged in a conspiracy to sell drugs throughout the Elyria area

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

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced that 10 individuals were arrested and charged in a multi-count indictment today for their involvement in a conspiracy to distribute and possess crack cocaine, cocaine and oxycodone throughout the Elyria, Ohio area.

These 10 individual are Terrence Bowens, 44; Cedric Green, 34; Marcus Harder, 36 of Elyria; James Milton Jr; Lavar Thornton, 42; James Robinson, 46; Randy Glover, 44; Harold Kimbro, 46; Kavis Roberts, 43; and Melanie Grantham, 57, all of Elyria, Ohio.

“Drug dealers and others criminal have long targeted Lorain County as an area to exploit and sell their deadly product,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Since 2018, as part of Operation SOS, we have committed to assisting our state and local partners by federally prosecuting any fentanyl or opioid trafficking offense from Lorain County.  Today’s arrests send a strong message – if you deal dope in Lorain County, you will face a federal prosecution.”

“These arrests and charges are a reminder drug traffickers have little regard for human life,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin. “DEA remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to rid our communities of illicit drugs and to prosecute those who look to profit from criminal activity.”

According to the indictment, from January 2018 to July 2020, the defendants worked together to distribute at least 280 grams of a substance containing crack cocaine, 500 grams of a substance containing cocaine and a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of oxycodone throughout the Elyria, Ohio area. Allegedly, defendants Bowens and Green would purchase large quantities of cocaine from an individual and would then redistribute it to the other narcotics traffickers in the area. 

Court documents state that defendants Bowens and Green used cellular devices to communicate and conduct their operations and used a residence on Foster Avenue in Elyria to store, cook, and distribute crack cocaine and oxycodone. Furthermore, the indictment alleges that Bowens and Green would conduct counter-surveillance of law enforcement in the area and shared information with each other on law enforcement presence. 

Terrence Bowens has a previous 1st-degree felony conviction for drug trafficking from 2013 in the Lorain County Common Pleas Court.

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.

The investigation was conducted and aided by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Elyria Police Department, the Lorain County Sheriff’s Department and the Lorain County Prosecutors Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Vasile C. Katsaros and Robert F. Corts.

Lorain County is one of 10 communities around the nation that is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S). This initiative ensures that cases involving heroin, fentanyl and any synthetic opioids are prosecuted in federal court.  

Contact

Daniel Ball
(216) 622-3921
Daniel.Ball@usdoj.gov

Updated July 14, 2020

Topic
Drug Trafficking