Cleveland’s Lionel Cannon Indicted on Heroin and Firearms Charges

Lionel D. Cannon, 50, of Cleveland, Ohio, faces a federal indictment on serious charges including possession with intent to distribute heroin and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Steven M. Dettelbach, Cannon was caught with more than 136 grams of heroin on August 19th. He also reportedly possessed two revolvers—a .380-caliber and a .44-caliber—despite previous convictions for cocaine offenses in both state and federal courts.

The indictment further alleges that Cannon traveled between Ohio and California in August to engage in the distribution of cocaine, a clear indication of his involvement in interstate drug trafficking.

Should he be convicted, Cannon’s sentence will be determined by the court based on the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, taking into account various factors unique to his case, including prior criminal record and role in the offense. However, it is important to note that any sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, with most sentences expected to fall short of this limit.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Pinjuh and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Tomaro from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office are prosecuting this case. The investigation was led by the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force (NOLETF), a multi-agency task force that has been instrumental in combating drug trafficking in Ohio.

It is crucial to emphasize that an indictment is merely a charge and does not prove guilt. Cannon is entitled to a fair trial where the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.