A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging a California man with trafficking methamphetamine, said Carole S. Rendon, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. Plancon.
George Schepp, 53, brought in more than one kilogram of methamphetamine for distribution in the Cleveland area in April. Based on the methamphetamine’s purity, Schepp trafficked into Cleveland at least 10,000 doses of methamphetamine.
Metroparks rangers seized methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy, LSD, GHB and marijuana during a traffic stop earlier this year. That led to information that Schepp regularly brings two to three pounds of methamphetamine to Cleveland from the Los Angeles area. Schepp normally drove the methamphetamine to Cleveland but sometimes flew it in, according to court documents.
Schepp was arrested on April 10 at the baggage claim area at Cleveland Hopkins Airport. This happened after a drug dog alerted to the presence of narcotics on Schepp’s suitcase, according to court documents.
“This defendant brought drugs worth tens of thousands of dollars into our community from California," Rendon said. “The law enforcement agents who worked this case should be credited for turning routine police work into a major drug bust."
Plancon said: “Methamphetamine is a dangerous and addictive drug. Thanks to good investigative work and cooperation between our law enforcement partners, we have successfully halted this individual from regularly importing large amounts of this addictive drug into Ohio to be distributed and ultimately consumed."
“We are pleased to have launched an investigation, and worked side-by-side with our law enforcement partners at the DEA, to help disrupt the supply of methamphetamine to Greater Cleveland," said Chief Daniel J. Veloski of the Cleveland Metroparks Rangers. “Through collaborative efforts such as this, we are able to significantly curtail drug trafficking and safeguard our communities."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Cronin is prosecuting the case following an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Cleveland Metroparks Ranger Department and the Lakewood Police Department.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of 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. In most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
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.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
