PITTSBURGH, PA -- A former Ohio resident has been sentenced in federal court to 10-years of imprisonment and five years of supervised release related to his membership in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States Senior District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Romeon Alford, age 47, formerly of East Liverpool, OH 43290.
According to information presented to the court, under the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, federal, state, and local law enforcement investigated a drug trafficking organization in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Multiple confidential sources established the identity of the main target of the investigation. Using controlled buy operations and surveillance, law enforcement also identified the members of the organization. The investigation revealed that the main target would supply his conspirators with multiple ounces of cocaine on a weekly basis, which would then be sold to end users. As evidenced by a multi-kilogram seizure from the main target, this drug trafficking organization dealt in kilogram quantities of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
During the investigation, law enforcement determined that the main target supplied Romean Alford and that Alford would then distribute cocaine to end users. Between November 2019 and January 2020, law enforcement conducted four controlled buy operations from Alford in the vicinity of his East Liverpool, Ohio, residence. Following these controlled buy operations, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant upon Alford’s residence. The search resulted in the seizure of multiple ounces of cocaine. An examination of Alford’s phone revealed that he frequently communicated with the main target of the investigation, confirming that the main target was Alford’s source of supply. The investigation further revealed that Alford would travel from Ohio to Beaver County in order to obtain multiple ounces of cocaine from his source of supply. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the main target had suppled Alford with multiple ounces of cocaine on a weekly basis since January 2019.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Alford.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
