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Source: US FBI

AKRON, Ohio – A 51-count superseding indictment was unsealed today charging 17 Ohio residents of operating a large-scale drug trafficking scheme based in Akron. The Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) is alleged to be responsible for trafficking distribution quantities of controlled substances in the Summit County, Ohio area including methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, as well as Alprazolam, which is more commonly known under the brand name Xanax. Three other defendants were indicted separately for their involvement in the conspiracy.

According to court documents, the investigation that led to the indictment began in December 2023 and continued to around August 2024. The alleged leader, Joe Nathan Sanders-Taylor, 41, of Akron, was believed to be the center of the DTO that distributed illegal drugs throughout Northeast Ohio. He was regularly supplied by co-conspirators who funneled drug inventory from sources connected to the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG or Jalisco Cartel). Sanders-Taylor developed a drug distribution process that employed a number of individuals to serve as drug dealers throughout the Northeast Ohio region.

Court documents show that Sanders-Taylor used a network of associates to re-sell the drugs, assist with financial transactions, or act as lookouts while drug deals took place. Several co-defendants and other members of the conspiracy maintained and used residences in Summit County, Ohio, to store and distribute their drug supplies, or to manufacture controlled substances. Members of the conspiracy also possessed firearms to further their illegal business activities and protect their drug inventory.

Sanders-Taylor was arrested on June 10, 2024, after he engaged in a pursuit by the Ohio State Highway Patrol on Interstate 77 in Summit County. As he fled from police, he threw two loaded firearms with high-capacity magazines from the vehicle. Sanders-Taylor crashed the vehicle and then fled on foot and attempted to carjack two separate vehicles with people still inside. Sanders-Taylor was later discovered to have prior federal convictions which prohibits him from possessing firearms. Further investigation of the incident determined that he also possessed distribution amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The remaining defendants were apprehended in a series of coordinated arrests.

The superseding indictment charges the following 17 defendants:

• Joe Nathan Sanders-Taylor, aka Red, 41, Akron
• Brooke Marie Logan, aka Bee, 29, Akron
• Tyrell Jerome Jennings, aka 50, 35, Cleveland
• Christopher Michael Andrews, aka Blondy, 28, Akron
• Crystal Marie Harris, 50, Akron
• Ronald Oscar Clark, 58, Akron
• Chelsey Marie Connelly, 35, Akron
• Angela Grace Wade, 47, Akron
• Demardre Leshawn Johnson, aka Icey, 37, Akron
• Denetris Condra May, aka D-May, aka Mayday, 38, Akron
• John P. Burton, 41, Akron
• Brian Keith Hinkle, aka Hizzle, 38, Akron
• Joshua Lee Hackney, aka Country, 38, Akron
• Matthew Dion Inman, 54, Akron
• Thomas Franklin Casanova, 27, Akron
• Donnie Keith Eugene Schaffer, 30, Akron
• Julia Francesca Stavole-Habimana, 26, Richfield

The superseding indictment alleges that the defendants did unlawfully, knowingly, and intentionally combine, conspire, confederate, and agree with each other to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, all Schedule II controlled substances, and Alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance.

In addition, three other defendants involved with this drug trafficking and firearms conspiracy were charged in a separate superseding indictment:

• Robert Parham, 54, Akron
• Laverne Fortson, 50, Akron
• Jeffery Goldbach, 54, Ravenna

According to court documents, in July 2024, Parham had 28 firearms, which included a machine gun, distribution amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine in his possession at his apartment in Akron. Fortson and Goldbach also possessed distribution amounts of narcotics at their residences.

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.

If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense 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 superseding indictment was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI Akron Field Office, with assistance from the Akron Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Girard Police Department, Barberton Police Department, Liberty Police Department, and the University of Akron Police Department.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Dangelo for the Northern District of Ohio.

Source: US FBI

With Valentine’s Day a few days away, FBI Cleveland reminds the public to remain aware when engaging in online relationships and warns about the hidden dangers when striking up a relationship with someone they have not met in real life.

Romance scams continue to rise, and typically begin when a criminal creates a fake profile on a dating site or social media platform. The scammer tricks victims into believing they’re in a loving and trusting relationship with that online persona. Fraudsters then leverage that relationship and concoct stories of financial hardships, persuading victims to send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other items of value. Confidence scams also include leading an individual to believe they are in a relationship as a “friend” or family member, and are tricked into sending money, personal and financial information, or items of value to the perpetrator or, to launder money or items to assist the perpetrator. This includes the Grandparent’s Scheme and any scheme in which the perpetrator preys on the targeted individual’s “heartstrings,” purporting someone is in trouble, ill, or in an urgent situation.

“While the ability to connect online has never been easier, so too is the risk of becoming victim to a scammer. At any given moment, we can log in to meet new “friends” with shared interests, play a virtual game with someone on the other side of the world, engage in a conversation with a person who may tell us they are a distant relative, or strike up a romance through a dating app,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen. “Sadly, if you are on a device, you are vulnerable, no matter your age, gender, or technological savviness. The FBI wants to remind the public about these schemes and educate people about the stories these fraudsters will use.”

According to data from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), Ohioans lost over $15.3 million in 2023 to confidence fraud and romance scams and over $652 million nationwide.

Most commonly, the perpetrators are men targeting women over 40 who are divorced, widowed, elderly, or disabled. The scam usually starts with an “innocent” contact online and builds from there. Romance scammers often use well-rehearsed scripts which have been previously used successfully.

These criminals actively search dating websites, apps, chat rooms, and social networking sites in their efforts to build a relationship with the goal of accessing financial assets or personally identifiable information. Romance scammers often spend hours honing their skills and sometimes maintain detailed journals, describing their targeted victims, to better understand how to manipulate and exploit them.

FBI Cleveland encourages people to do their due diligence about the person they are communicating with, just as you would when meeting in person. Ask a lot of questions and don’t take everything at face value. Even if the person sends casual ‘at-home’ images that appear normal, oftentimes, scammers will steal the identity of another person and use those photos as bait. To avoid meeting in person, scammers often claim to live or work in other parts of the country or world. Eventually, when they feel they have gained the trust of their victims, these criminals will request money, oftentimes for a medical emergency for themselves, a child, or family member, an unexpected legal fee, or some other false purpose, including a church, charity, or natural disaster. They may send a courier, “friend,” or ride share to your home or suggest someplace public to meet to hand over the asset. They may even say that it must be done privately for your safety.

These scams are borderless and anyone of any age can be targeted. The scammers goal is to financially exploit the victim. If someone you meet online needs your bank account information to deposit money, they are most likely using your account to carry out other theft and fraud schemes.

If you find yourself beginning to develop a relationship with someone you meet online, remember these tips to help protect yourself:

• Be careful with sharing too much personal information online across all social media sites. Scammers can and often use those details to target you and build commonalities.
• If you’re on dating sites, only use platforms with a well-known reputation, and research photos and profiles online to see if anyone has used that name or image elsewhere. It may take a little time on your part but will be well worth the effort in the long run.
• Beware of online suitors who try to isolate you from your family or friends, or those who ask you to send inappropriate photos or financial information that could be later used to extort you.
• Don’t send money to someone you’ve never met in person. Scammers often use emotional pleas and stories of despair to trick you into believing their story of need.

“The best advice I can give is to encourage friends and family members to have open, honest discussions with one another about these dangers, and be wary about people you meet online who begin to ask or pressure you into sharing personal identifying information, ask you to send money, bitcoin, or gold; or threaten you or someone you love with physical, financial, or emotional harm,” Nelsen added. If you suspect your online relationship is a scam, whether you are involved or someone you know may be falling victim to the scam, call 1-800-CALL-FBI to file a report, or visit ic3.gov to submit a tip. No amount is too large or small to report to the FBI whether it’s a request to wire money, send gift cards, or transfer other items of value. You are the victim and reporting is the only way the FBI can connect the dots and stop these criminals from targeting other people or further exploiting you and your network. You should also contact your financial institution if you’ve already sent money.

Find more resources about romance scams at FBI.gov/romancescams

Source: US FBI

TOLEDO, Ohio – Gary Matthew Hughes, 36, of Piqua, Ohio, was sentenced to 14 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick, after pleading guilty to coercion or enticement of a minor. He was also ordered to serve 20 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $114,000 in restitution.

From about September to October 2023, Hughes communicated with a purported seven-year-old daughter of an undercover agent. He admitted that his intent was to engage in sexual activity with the girl. During the investigation, agents also found multiple files of child sexual abuse materials on his personal cellphone.

The case was investigated by the FBI Toledo Field Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracey Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report child sexual abuse, please visit www.cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Source: US FBI

TOLEDO, Ohio – After a six-day trial, a federal jury convicted two men of participating in a vast money laundering conspiracy that robbed victims from across four states of their life savings. Pranay Kumar Mamidi, 27, and Kishan Vinayak Patel, 26, both nationals of the Republic of India, were found guilty of participating in a money laundering conspiracy, concealing the source of the money, and using the illegally gained money to further promote a criminal enterprise. 

According to court documents, from about May to November 2023, Mamidi and Patel, along with other co-conspirators, engaged in a multi-layered scheme to launder proceeds derived from a fraud known as a phantom hacker scam. In this type of scam, a scammer, acting as a customer service representative for a store or bank, contacts a target victim and falsely informs them that their bank account has been hacked or compromised. Next, the victim is directed to a fake federal law enforcement agent for supposed assistance. The fake federal agent then proceeds to obtain the victim’s savings by deception, typically threatening imminent seizure or arrest.

In one common example, elderly victims are contacted by someone pretending to be an Amazon, Inc. employee, who informs the victim of suspicious activity on their accounts. Next, the victim is contacted by another person who claims to be from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and informs the victim that their identity was stolen. The victim is then contacted by another individual who claims to be a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agent. The fake DEA special agent claims that the account in question is being investigated for facilitating fraud and has resulted in supposed arrest warrants for the victim. Fearing legal actions, the victim follows the scammer’s instructions to pull their savings from their bank account and convert funds into cash or gold bars. The victim is further instructed to give another supposed law enforcement official cash and/or gold bars at a designated drop-off point such as a gas station or fast food restaurant. After the drop, the victim is then sent a receipt which appears to be from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and completes the illusion of a legitimate transaction.

According to court documents, the defendants in this case served as money launderers for other co-conspirators throughout the world who participated in phantom hacker schemes based out of India. The U.S. based money laundering infrastructure allowed funds illegally taken from victims to be distributed throughout the world. Investigators estimate that the total amount of money laundered is in the tens of millions of dollars.

Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. Mamidi and Patel each face a maximum of 20 years in prison for each count of conviction.

Six other defendants also named in the second superseding indictment filed in August 2024 were also charged. The following have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing: Dileep Kumar Sakineni, age 26; Balaji Rakesh Mulpuri, age 26; Avi Jitendrakumar Patel, age 22; Sai Hruthik Thodeti, age 25; and Srinivas Ravi Valluru, age 31, all nationals of the Republic of India; and Hiren Jagdishbhai Patel, age 33, of Columbus, Ohio.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI-Cleveland Field Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Melching and Dexter Phillips for the Northern District of Ohio.

The investigation and prosecution of this case is in response to the Elder Justice Initiative Program originating from the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017 (EAPPA). The mission of the EAPPA and Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, financial fraud, and scams that target the nation’s elderly population.

If you suspect fraudulent conduct involving an older adult, please contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov to report it.

Source: US FBI

            WASHINGTON — An Ohio man was arrested today for allegedly assaulting law enforcement and other offenses related to his alleged conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His alleged actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

            Frederick Breitfelder, 60, of Harrison, Ohio, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder. In addition to the felonies, Breitfelder is charged with several misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining; disorderly and disruptive conduct; and, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds.

            The FBI arrested Breitfelder on Jan. 16, 2025, in Cincinnati, and he will make his initial appearance in the Southern District of Ohio. 

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, thousands of protesters gathered on the West Side of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Initially outside a restricted area marked by fencing and bike rack barricades, the crowd grew increasingly hostile, breaching the barriers and forcing their way forward. Video evidence shows a man, later identified as Breitfelder, allegedly pulling on a bike rack barricade, creating an opening in the restricted perimeter and allowing rioters to advance toward the Capitol.

            After breaching the outer barriers, protesters, including Breitfelder, encountered a second police line on the West Plaza. Officers from the United States Capitol Police (USCP) and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) were stationed behind metal barricades at the top of a small flight of stairs. Rioters repeatedly tried to dismantle the barricades, assaulting and impeding officers in their efforts to breach the line. It is alleged that at approximately 2:02 p.m., body-worn camera footage captured Breitfelder at the front of the crowd, holding an axe handle above his head with both hands.

            By 2:04 p.m., body-worn camera footage recorded rioters attacking the police line, pushing and pulling officers and their equipment. During this confrontation, it is alleged that Breitfelder swung the axe handle twice at an MPD officer’s hand as the officer attempted to deploy pepper spray. The axe handle struck the metal barricade directly in front of the officer on both occasions. Officers struggled to maintain their position as rioters continued to assault them.

            At approximately 2:12 p.m., rioters surged up the stairs again, pulling officers down and prompting others to descend to retrieve their colleagues. During this chaos, video footage captured Breitfelder allegedly pushing an MPD officer. Despite repeated efforts by officers to hold the line, the rioters ultimately breached it at around 2:30 p.m., forcing police to retreat. Breitfelder was captured on video at the forefront of the crowd as they pushed through the line, overtaking the West Plaza.

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Cincinnati and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 48 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,583 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 600 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

            A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: US FBI

CINCINNATI – Two former FirstEnergy executives have been indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with one count of participating in a racketeering (RICO) conspiracy.

Charles E. Jones, 69, of Akron, and Michael Dowling, 60, of Massillon, will be scheduled to appear in federal court in Cincinnati today. The indictment was returned on Jan. 15 and unsealed this morning.

It is alleged that Jones and Dowling participated in an enterprise (FirstEnergy Corp. and its subsidiaries) through a pattern of racketeering activity – including bribery, money laundering and obstruction – to increase the company’s stock price and enrich themselves. Although the defendants helped pursue the legal interests of FirstEnergy, Jones and Dowling also corrupted FirstEnergy by allegedly abusing their positions of trust and engaging in criminal activities in pursuit of personal and commercial gain.

Jones served in senior executive positions for FirstEnergy, including as President and CEO, from approximately 2015 until his employment was terminated in 2020. During that time, Jones made approximately $65 million in compensation. Approximately $60 million of his earnings came from performance-based pay tied, in part, to FirstEnergy stock prices. Dowling served as Senior Vice President at the time of his termination in 2020. Part of his pay was also tied to company financial performance and growth.

The 42-page indictment details the ways in which Jones and Dowling allegedly acted in support of the RICO conspiracy, including schemes to bribe former Ohio House Representative Larry Householder and former PUCO Chairman Samuel Randazzo.

According to the indictment, between 2017 and March 2020, FirstEnergy paid more than $59 million to 501(c)(4) entity Generation Now, which Jones and Dowling knew was operated for the benefit of and controlled by Householder. The bribe money helped Householder gain the position of Speaker of the House and pass and uphold House Bill 6, a billion-dollar nuclear plant bailout to benefit FirstEnergy.

It is alleged Jones and Dowling used a different 501(c)(4) entity, Energy Pass-Through, to fund with FirstEnergy money and direct payments to Generation Now and other entities they believed were associated with public officials for FirstEnergy’s and the officials’ benefit. Dowling allegedly referred to the 501(c)(4) as a “political tool.”

The indictment also alleges that Jones and Dowling pushed for FirstEnergy-approved appointments to the state public utilities board, including Randazzo as PUCO Chairman. In January 2019, FirstEnergy allegedly paid Randazzo’s companies more than $4.3 million for Randazzo providing favorable official actions for FirstEnergy through PUCO proceedings.

The indictment alleges that Jones referred to Householder as his “expensive friend,” and thanked Randazzo after PUCO, under Randazzo’s leadership, took action in 2019 that Jones attributed to raising FirstEnergy’s stock price.

After the passage of House Bill 6, Dowling wrote, “Huge bet and we played it all right on the budget and HB 6 – so we can go back for more!”

“I stated following the jury conviction of Householder and Borges that this office would continue to work tirelessly to hold more people accountable for their actions to harm Ohioans, and we have,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “This indictment is yet another step in the direction of that accountability.”

“This alleged $60 million racketeering conspiracy defrauded Ohioans to enrich the defendants,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “The FBI will continue to pursue political corruption and corporate fraud to protect taxpayers and hold white-collar criminals responsible for their actions.”

The RICO conspiracy as charged in this case is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the charges. Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew C. Singer are representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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Source: US FBI

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former Columbus police officer was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 65 months in prison for conspiring with another police officer to traffic more than eight kilograms of fentanyl and for conspiring with a confidential informant to traffic 40 kilograms of cocaine.

John J. Kotchkoski, 36, of Marengo, Ohio, conspired to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

“Failing to uphold his oath to serve the residents of this great community, Kotchkoski forever stained his badge, not the badge of all the incredible men and women of the Columbus Division of Police.  He should be held accountable for his misdeeds.  This sentence of more than five years in prison for conspiring to distribute this poison in our community should send a message to every member of law enforcement that any such failure to uphold our oath to the community will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker.

According to court documents, from at least June 2021 through his September 2021 arrest, while assigned to investigate drug crimes, Kotchkoski conspired with a fellow Columbus police officer and with a confidential informant to illegally traffic drugs.

Kotchkoski provided the confidential informant approximately 40 kilograms of cocaine to be sold and then kept most of the proceeds.

The defendant conspired with the other officer to receive a portion of the drug proceeds made from selling kilogram quantities of fentanyl. For example, on at least three occasions, the coconspirator distributed fentanyl to another individual and accepted $32,500 for approximately one of the kilograms of fentanyl. Kotchkoski received a portion of these drug proceeds.

In late August 2021, Kotchkoski expected to receive an additional portion of drug proceeds for more than eight kilograms of fentanyl being provided by his coconspirator but was arrested before he was able to do so.

Kotchkoski pleaded guilty to a bill of information in April 2022.

As part of his conviction, Kotchkoski will forfeit a Cadillac Escalade, a Chevrolet Corvette, more than 20 firearms and a money judgment totaling half a million dollars.

Coconspirator Marco R. Merino was sentenced in February 2023 to nine years in prison.

Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the FBI’s Public Corruption Task Force, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate and Elizabeth A. Geraghty are representing the United States in this case.

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