Two Wooster men were indicted for distributing heroin and cocaine that resulted in the fatal overdose of a Wayne County woman, law enforcement officials said.
Jamie Curtis, 36, and Theodore Alleman, 28, were both indicted on one count of distribution of heroin and cocaine. The charge carries a potential sentencing enhancement because the drugs they distributed resulted in a death.
Curtis is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Curtis had a Witness 9 mm firearm with an obliterated serial number, and ammunition, despite a prior felony conviction for drug trafficking in Wayne County Common Pleas Court.
Curtis sold heroin and cocaine to Alleman from June 2016 through January 2017, according to the indictment.
Alleman, on Nov. 12, 2016, contacted a Wayne County woman identified in the indictment as H.C. H.C. was a recovering drug addict. Alleman repeatedly attempted to persuade H.C. to inject heroin with him, but she refused, according to the indictment.
Alleman purchased drinks for H.C. throughout the evening at a local pub and continued to ask her to inject heroin with him. In the early morning hours of Nov. 13, H.C. agreed. Alleman went to an ATM to get money and texted Curtis “I need a g" (gram of heroin), according to the indictment.
A friend identified in the indictment as G.C. fought with Alleman and H.C. about getting heroin. C.G. was forcefully removed from the vehicle. Alleman and H.C. met with Curtis and purchased heroin and cocaine, according to the indictment.
On Nov. 13, Alleman prepared a mixture of heroin and cocaine that he and H.C. injected. H.C. then overdosed and died, according to the indictment.
“These men sold drugs that directly resulted in the death of a young woman," Herdman said. “We will continue to seek long prison sentences for drug dealers who kill and injure our friends and neighbors."
DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. Plancon said: “Identifying and bringing to justice the individuals that distribute drugs that lead to overdose death is a top priority of DEA. Today’s charges send the message to all drug dealers that they will be held accountable for bringing that poison into the community, and their deadly results."
“The continued collaborative efforts of the Medway Drug Task Force and the Cleveland DEA to investigate these opiate overdoses, truly sends a message to our community that people will be held accountable," said MEDWAY Director Don Hall.
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 violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This case is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa Riley following an investigation by the DEA, ATF, MEDWAY Drug Enforcement Agency, Wooster Police Department, Wayne County Sheriff's Office, Wayne County Coroner's Office and Ohio BCI.
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
