Cleveland Man Charged with Crack Cocaine Possession

A Cleveland man is facing serious charges after a federal grand jury indicted him on two counts of drug and firearm-related crimes.

Paul E. Loines, 53, of Cleveland, has been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute, according to United States Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach for the Northern District of Ohio.

The indictment alleges that Loines was found in possession of a .22 caliber handgun and 4.94 grams of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Assistant United States Attorney Karrie D. Howard will be prosecuting the case.

If convicted, the court will determine Loines’ sentence after reviewing factors unique to the case, including his prior criminal record, his role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.

The sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Loines is entitled to a fair trial in which the government will have to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Loines’ case is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle against drug trafficking and firearms-related crimes in Cleveland and beyond.

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