Ernest Corrigan, Meth Trafficking, Ohio 2020

Two Kirtland men, Ernest Corrigan, 57, and Andrew Householder, 43, have been charged with numerous federal drug trafficking and firearms charges, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland.

Defendants Corrigan and Householder are charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and oxycodone; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Corrigan is also charged as a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

According to court documents, law enforcement agents identified the defendants as known traffickers of methamphetamine in Ohio in June 2020. From August through December 2020, law enforcement officers conducted a number of controlled buys of methamphetamine from a residence used by the defendants. On December 30, 2020, a search warrant was obtained for the residence, and during the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement agents allegedly obtained more than a kilogram of methamphetamine and detectable amounts of heroin, cocaine, and oxycodone.

In addition to the controlled substances, agents recovered 16 firearms, including AR-15 style rifles, sniper rifles, shotguns, and handguns; thousands of rounds of ammunition of all calibers; and approximately $4,000 in cash. A methamphetamine lab and pill press allegedly used to make counterfeit Adderall pills, which contained methamphetamine, were also discovered at the residence.

Corrigan is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to two previous federal convictions for trafficking methamphetamine and a conviction for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 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.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the 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 indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, and Cleveland Heights Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin P. Pierce. This effort was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.

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