Rebecca C. Lutzko United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
Federal authorities have charged six individuals in an alleged interstate drug trafficking operation moving methamphetamine, cocaine, and other controlled substances from California to Ohio. The indictment, unsealed on August 12 in Cleveland, outlines a conspiracy that spanned from February 2023 to April 2024.
The defendants named are Genaro Villa of San Diego, California; Terrance Gainer, Anthony Clark, and Darquan Dixon of Akron, Ohio; Allura Ward of Mansfield, Ohio; and Najiyah Martin of Los Angeles. Prosecutors allege that Villa supplied large quantities of drugs from California to the group’s members in Ohio. Gainer, Clark, Dixon, and Ward are accused of transporting the drugs into the state. Martin is charged with facilitating kilogram-level drug transactions among Villa, Clark, and Gainer.
According to investigators, the organization smuggled contraband by mailing packages through the U.S. Postal Service or by hiding drugs in checked airline baggage. Methamphetamine and cocaine were shipped from Los Angeles and San Diego to cities including Akron, Barberton, Mansfield, and Columbus. Couriers allegedly transported these shipments by commercial flights before delivering them for further distribution.
Authorities say once the drugs arrived in Ohio they were sold throughout the state by Gainer, Clark, Dixon, and Ward. Ward is also accused of purchasing a pill press machine along with more than 55 pounds of pill-binding powder to manufacture illicit pills at her home.
The indictment details several specific incidents connected to the conspiracy. In one case cited by prosecutors: “Clark texted Villa a photo of large stacks of rubber-banded cash that he intended to use as payment for the drugs.” Another instance involved a video showing someone filling a storage container with bags of white crystalline substances. On another occasion: “Clark contacted Martin about a kilogram brick of cocaine that was short by 90 grams. Martin then sent him a photo showing a brick of cocaine stamped with the marking ‘1000’ on a digital scale that displayed a weight of 32.1 ounces, or approximately 910 grams.”
In April 2024: “Gainer asked Dixon to ‘drop off some cash in Cali,’ meaning...to smuggle cash to their drug supplier in California.” Authorities allege that Dixon traveled from Ohio to California for this purpose before returning with bulk amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine concealed in his suitcase. Ward picked up Dixon at Cincinnati airport but both were stopped by the Ohio State Highway Patrol before reaching Columbus. Officers recovered over 17 pounds (8.8 kilograms) of methamphetamine, two pounds (about one kilogram) of cocaine and a loaded semi-automatic pistol during their search.
Overall federal investigators seized more than 33 pounds (15 kilograms) of methamphetamine and over two pounds (one kilogram) of cocaine believed smuggled from California to Ohio via mail or airline flights during this investigation. Multiple firearms linked to the operation were also confiscated.
If convicted on these charges each defendant faces sentencing determined individually by factors such as prior criminal record and role in offenses; sentences will not exceed statutory maximums.
The investigation was led by DEA Detroit Division’s Cleveland Field Office alongside U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Cleveland Office with support from local law enforcement agencies including Summit County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James P. Lewis is prosecuting this case for the Northern District of Ohio.
This prosecution falls under efforts coordinated by Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which targets major criminal organizations using multi-agency strategies (https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf).
As stated: “An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”
