Eleven people were indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine from Texas to the Akron area.
All of the defendants named in the 27-count indictment are from Akron unless otherwise noted. They are: William G. Steen, 55, of Texas; Jonathan Johnson, 35; Darren Ross, 46, of Louisiana; Gregory Moran, TK, of Texas; Andre L. Brown, 47; Michael L. Weimer, 33; Harold W. Weimar III, 36; Travonte Bell, 26; Sanada S. Griffin, 36; Troy Whatley, 48; and Robert Zornes, Jr., 43.
All defendants conspired from January 2016 to possess with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine and 500 grams of methamphetamine.
Steen provided cocaine to Ross and Moran, who transported it to Johnson and others for distribution in the Akron area. Johnson, in turn, provided the cocaine to Michael Weimer and others. Johnson and Brown also supplied Weimer with methamphetamine, according to the indictment.
Brown faces additional charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm in relation to drug trafficking.
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 and in most cases it will be less than maximum.
This cases is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa Riley following an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Summit County Sheriff's Office, the police departments of Akron, Copley, Tallmadge, Stow, Cuyahoga Falls, Barberton, Springfield Township, New Franklin, Silver Lake, Reminderville and the University of Akron, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Summit County Prosecutor's Office.
An indictment is only a charge. 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
