Cincinnati father & son each sentenced to more than a dozen years in prison for running drug ring

CINCINNATI – A father and son who lived an extravagant lifestyle from proceeds of their drug trafficking organization were sentenced in U.S. District Court to 180 months and 150 months in prison respectively.

Stephen Wheeler, 49, was sentenced on June 20 and his son Romello Wheeler, 30, was sentenced on April 17.

According to court documents, between July 2022 and February 2023, the Wheelers operated a multi-kilogram drug trafficking organization involving fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana.

The two men shared a luxury apartment downtown Cincinnati for more than $4,000 per month in rent. They rented a separate house for approximately $1,000 to use as a drug premises. Throughout the eight-month investigation, the defendants drove nine different high-end vehicles, traveled extensively throughout the United States and internationally, and purchased front-row tickets with field passes for the Halftime Show for the Super Bowl in Los Angeles. When they and their residences were searched by law enforcement, they had approximately 1,317.9 grams of fentanyl, 1,678.3 grams of 95% pure crystal methamphetamine (or “Ice”), 962.5 grams of cocaine, $190,000 in bulk cash, and more than $395,000 worth of assorted jewelry, along with a loaded armor-piercing pistol.

The defendants pled guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine.

A third co-defendant, Mikelle D. Hill, was convicted and sentenced to four months in prison for her role in helping the drug trafficking organization, which included a truck and storage unit registered to her name.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced the sentences imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jeffery P. Hopkins. Assistant United States Attorney David P. Dornette, Criminal Chief Christy L. Muncy, and Deputy Criminal Chief Frederic Shadley are representing the United States in this case.

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