CINCINNATI, OHIO – In a shocking display of opulence fueled by illicit gains, a father and son duo has been sentenced to lengthy prison sentences for their roles in a massive fentanyl trafficking organization.
Stephen Wheeler, 49, and his son Romello Wheeler, 30, were handed down 180 months and 150 months in prison, respectively, by U.S. District Court Judge Jeffery P. Hopkins on June 20 and April 17.
According to court documents, the Wheelers operated a multi-kilogram drug trafficking organization involving fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana between July 2022 and February 2023. The lavish lifestyle they supported from their illicit gains included a shared luxury apartment in downtown Cincinnati for $4,000 per month in rent, a separate house used as a drug premises for approximately $1,000 per month, and a collection of nine high-end vehicles.
The Wheelers’ getaways took them extensively throughout the United States and internationally, including a trip to Los Angeles to attend the Super Bowl Halftime Show, where they even scored front-row tickets with field passes. Their searches by law enforcement yielded an astonishing haul of 1,317.9 grams of fentanyl, 1,678.3 grams of pure crystal methamphetamine, 962.5 grams of cocaine, $190,000 in bulk cash, and over $395,000 worth of jewelry.
The defendants pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 500 grams or more of cocaine. Their co-defendant, Mikelle D. Hill, was convicted and sentenced to four months in prison for her role in the organization, which included a truck and storage unit registered to her name.
The sentences were announced by Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant United States Attorney David P. Dornette, Criminal Chief Christy L. Muncy, and Deputy Criminal Chief Frederic Shadley represented the United States in this case.
The Wheelers’ reckless pursuit of profits has been brought to a halt, and justice has been served. The sentences handed down by Judge Hopkins serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of engaging in such heinous crimes.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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