Gary R. Hill Sr., Heroin and Cocaine Trafficking, Michigan 2024

Three men are facing federal charges in a high-volume heroin and cocaine trafficking operation that flooded parts of Ohio with deadly narcotics. Indicted are Gary R. Hill, Sr., 62, of Lathrup Village, Mich.; Leroy L. Hooker, 47, and Larry E. Stewart, 50, both of Toledo, Ohio. The indictment, unsealed by federal authorities, alleges the trio conspired to possess and distribute more than a kilogram of heroin and five kilograms of cocaine as recently as December 2016.

The stash tied to Hill, Hooker, and Stewart represents a lethal payload in the ongoing opioid crisis gripping the Midwest. Federal prosecutors say the quantity involved points to a supply chain aimed not at personal use, but at systematic street-level distribution. The FBI’s Toledo field office led the investigation, tracking patterns of movement, communication, and financial transactions to dismantle the network.

“We will continue to seek long prison sentences for drug traffickers,” said Carole S. Rendon, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “Aggressive enforcement, coupled with increased access to treatment for those who want help, changes in prescribing practices and more education are all required to combat the opioid epidemic that has devastated our state.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony didn’t mince words: “Unfortunately, heroin and cocaine continue to plague our communities. Law enforcement will hold these individuals, and any others, that bring illegal narcotics to our streets accountable in a court of law.” The statement underscores the federal government’s push to disrupt multi-kilo drug operations before they reach vulnerable neighborhoods.

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including prior criminal records if any, their roles in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. While the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, federal drug laws carry severe mandatory minimums, especially for quantities exceeding one kilogram of heroin.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas P. Weldon and Alissa M. Sterling. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Toledo.