News

The USAO has announced sentencings in connection with a drug trafficking organization that transported suitcases stuffed with illegal drugs from California to Ohio. 

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio has announced sentencings for several defendants who were charged in connection with a 2023 violent crime reduction initiative. The initiative was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to focus on the reduction of gun-crime violence.

Ronald Rendon-Luna, 37, a Mexican national residing in Painesville, Ohio, has been sentenced to 151 months in prison after he pled guilty to engaging in a drug-trafficking conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and being an alien in possession of firearms. 

Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials have unsealed an indictment that charged 15 members of a Drug Trafficking Operation (DTO) based in Lorain County, Ohio. According to court documents, the DTO was allegedly trafficking fentanyl in counterfeit pill form in the cities of Elyria and Lorain and the surrounding Northeast Ohio areas. 

Brandon Bryant, 28, of Cleveland, was sentenced 365 months (more than 30 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and use of a communications facility in furtherance of a drug felony.

Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials announce the unsealing of a superseding indictment charging 15 members of the Fully Blooded Felons, a criminal street gang that was active in Northeast Ohio and in the Ohio prison system.

CLEVELAND – Federal, county, and local law enforcement officials today announced that 59 individuals were charged and arrested in connection with firearms-trafficking, narcotics,conspiracy, or other firearms offenses after a three month, violent-crime-reduction initiative in Cleveland this summer.

James P. Verdream, 57, of Youngstown, Ohio, was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Benita Y. Pearson, after he pleaded guilty to robbing two Youngstown area banks. Verdream was ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release following imprisonment, pay a $200 special assessment, and pay $1,734 in restitution.  Verdream was also ordered to pay restitution of $3,991 for an uncharged robbery that occurred in Pennsylvania. 

A federal jury convicted Branea Bryant, age 29, and Ramel Drew, age 44, both of Cleveland, Ohio, of drug trafficking offenses.