STEUBENVILLE, OHIO
A investigation, dubbed “Chicago Boys” because of the ties between the drug traffickers in the Steubenville area and suppliers and traffickers from the Greater Chicago area, led to the conviction of 16 defendants on federal and state charges related to narcotics trafficking and evidence tampering, officials stated.
The investigation netted more than $30,000 and 10 firearms, officials said.
Leaders of the drug organization admitted to distributing as much as 66 pounds of heroin in the Steubenville area during an approximate two year period, officials said.
“Heroin is impacting the lives of Americans in every state, in every region, and from every background and walk of life,” U.S. Attorney Carter M. Stewart said. “The Steubenville area is no exception to this, which is why cooperative law enforcement efforts such as this one are so needed. The coordination represented by this effort illustrates a serious law enforcement commitment to loosening the grip that heroin has on our communities.”
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Convicted of federal charges for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin were:
- Kinlawyed Hendrix, aka “Lo”, 27, Steubenville, Ohio
- Calvin D. Bryant Jr., aka “Gunz”, 26, Canton, Ohio
- Robert L. Simmons Jr., aka “Chase”, 19, Steubenville, Ohio
- Jessie O. Birden, aka “J-Money”, 21, Steubenville, Ohio
- Berryon F. Moore, III, aka “Pumpkin”, 25, Steubenville, Ohio
- Joseph L. Dennis, 30, aka “JD” Toronto, Ohio
- Sean Loveless, 29 aka “Puff” Steubenville, Ohio
- Steven James, 36, Chicago, Ill.
- Kyle M. Irvin, 30, Chicago, Ill.
- Charles H. Thompson, 28, Chicago, Ill.
Convicted of state charges related to drug trafficking and tampering with evidence were:
Lavinia Hearon, 29, Chicago, Ill.
Jacari Benson, 30, Weirton, W. Va.
Frederick L. McGowan, 39, Madison WI
Robert Jackson, 32, Steubenville, Ohio
Harry E. Stackhouse, 25, Steubenville, Ohio
Rashann D. Mukes, 28, Steubenville, Ohio
Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 2.2 pounds of heroin is a federal crime punishable by 10 years to up to life in prison, officials said.
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a maximum federal sentence of 40 years in prison, according to authorities.