A federal indictment was unsealed charging two Youngstown men for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy, as well as additional firearms charges.
Anthony Cleveland and Jamayle Roland, both 28, were charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of crack cocaine.
Roland was charged with distribution of crack cocaine while Cleveland was charged with possession with intent to distribute a cocaine, possession with intent to distribute a crack cocaine, being felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Cleveland allegedly sold drugs from his residence on Alameda Avenue in Youngstown. Roland accompanied drug customers to the house, obtained drugs from Cleveland, and took payments back to Cleveland. This took place in September 2018, according to the indictment.
Roland allegedly sold 20 grams of crack cocaine on Sept. 21, 2018, according to the indictment.
Cleveland on Sept. 26, 2018, allegedly possessed 48 grams of cocaine, 69 grams of crack cocaine, a ATI GSI 5 Model rifle, a Ruger semiautomatic pistol with an obliterated serial number, a Taurus.40-caliber pistol and ammunition, according to the indictment.
Cleveland used firearms in relation to drug trafficking and was forbidden from having them because of previous felony convictions, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendants’ sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique
to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal record, if any, the defendants role in the offenses 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 the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason M. Katz.
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
