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Cleveland Man Indicted on Heroin and Firearms Charges
A Cleveland man, Lionel D. Cannon, 50, has been indicted on federal charges related to heroin and firearms possession. According to the indictment, Cannon possessed more than 136 grams of heroin on Aug. 19.
The indictment also alleges that Cannon was in possession of a .380-caliber revolver and a .44-caliber revolver, despite having previous cocaine convictions in state and federal court. Cannon also travelled between Ohio and California in August to engage in distribution of cocaine, the indictment claims.
The charges against Cannon include one count each of possession with intent to distribute heroin, being a felon in possession of a firearm and interstate travel for the purpose of facilitating an unlawful activity. Cannon faces up to 20 years in prison for the heroin charge, up to 10 years for the felon in possession of a firearm charge, and up to 5 years for the interstate travel charge, if convicted.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Pinjuh and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Tomaro of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. The investigation was conducted by the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force, a multi-agency task force comprised of investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, Cleveland Division of Police, Cleveland Heights Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Euclid Police Department, Regional Transit Authority Police Department, Westlake Police Department, and Shaker Heights Police Department.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The case will be determined by the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which depend on a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the unique characteristics of the violation.
The Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force is also one of the initial Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiatives, supporting and helping coordinate numerous Ohio drug task forces in their efforts to eliminate or reduce drug trafficking in Ohio.
Cannon’s indictment is a significant blow to the city’s efforts to combat drug trafficking and violent crime. The case highlights the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies in tackling these complex issues.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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