Rebecca C. Lutzko United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
A Cleveland man has been sentenced to nearly 16 years in prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking operation that distributed fentanyl and cocaine from his grandmother’s basement.
Darnell Kief Beckham Bell, age 34, received a sentence of 190 months (15 years and 8 months) in federal prison. U.S. District Judge John R. Adams also ordered Bell to serve five years of supervised release following his incarceration. A jury convicted Bell in September on charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
Court documents and trial evidence revealed that law enforcement began investigating suspected fentanyl trafficking in Northeast Ohio in 2024. During surveillance, authorities observed several people entering and leaving a house on West 137th Street. Federal agents executed a search warrant at the residence, where they detained Bell after finding evidence linked to drug activity in the basement belonging to his grandmother.
Among the items seized were two digital scales with residue of fentanyl, fluorofentanyl, and cocaine; a loaded HK .45 caliber pistol later determined to be stolen; a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber magazine with ammunition; sixteen bags containing a total of 403.25 grams of crack cocaine; two plastic bags holding 139.31 grams of fentanyl; 124.29 grams of a mixture including xylazine, fentanyl, and para-fluorofentanyl; an additional 81.76 grams of fentanyl; 2.14 grams of cocaine; and two credit cards with white powder residue.
During the trial, prosecutors introduced evidence that included a statement made by Bell while incarcerated: “no one knew about Nana’s basement.”
Two co-conspirators named in the superseding indictment—Loundon Hardy, age 30, and Kobe Bell-Beckham, age 27—have pleaded guilty to related drug conspiracy, distribution, and possession charges. Both are awaiting sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI Cleveland Division with support from the Cleveland Division of Police.
Assistant United States Attorneys Marc D. Bullard and Scott Zarzycki prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.
