Fifteen people are facing federal charges after a year-long investigation uncovered a large-scale drug ring operating across Northeast Ohio and Pennsylvania, according to federal court documents.
Investigators believe the organization organized methamphetamine shipments from the US-Mexico border and obtained more supplies in Akron, Ohio. The pills were purchased in pound quantities and peddled throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding areas. The organization allegedly used four stash homes in Akron to process, store, and distribute methamphetamine.
In total, law enforcement discovered proof of transactions involving over 100 pounds of methamphetamine. During the investigation, authorities confiscated around 15 pounds of the narcotic and a weapon.
A series of coordinated arrests occurred in April and May in response to a wave of criminal complaints and the return of a 21-count federal indictment in May.
All 15 individuals are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine:
- Clarence Daniels, 44, of Akron, Ohio
- Larry Finch, 43, of Akron, Ohio
- Nicholas Helfrick, 44, of Akron, Ohio
- Ricardo Allison, 44, of Akron, Ohio
- Sheldon Bell, 45, of Akron, Ohio
- John Townsend, 41, of Akron, Ohio
- Bryce Dittman, 27, of St. Petersburg, Pennsylvania
- Tyler Smith, 28, of East Brady, Pennsylvania
- Anthony Raunikar, 44, of Akron, Ohio
- Marcus Nixon, 45, of Akron, Ohio
- John Koza, 45, of Akron, Ohio
- Earl Breckenridge, 56, of Oil City, Pennsylvania
- Jazzmin Thomas, 30, of Akron, Ohio
- Samantha Lentz, 30, of Doylestown, Ohio
- Craig Consilio, 62, of Akron, Ohio
Several defendants face additional federal counts:
Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine: Dittman, Smith, Breckenridge, Lentz, Raunikar, Finch, Allison, and Consilio.
Maintaining Drug Premises: Finch, Helfrick, and Consilio.
Use of a Communication Facility to Facilitate a Drug Offense: Daniels, Finch, Helfrick, Allison, Bell, Townsend, Raunikar, Dixon, Koza, Breckenridge, Lentz, and Consilio.
Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition: Nixon, who has prior convictions for illegal drug manufacture in 2001 and illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for drug manufacture in 2016.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Akron Police Department, and Ohio State Highway Patrol launched a collaborative investigation. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristen Rolph and Toni Beth Schnellinger Feisthamel of the Northern District of Ohio.
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