Five Canton men have been hit with a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, according to Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Cleveland Division of the FBI’s Cleveland office.
This operation is another success story of federal and local law enforcement collaboration aimed at dismantling drug networks that degrade the quality of life in Canton and Stark County, said Dettelbach.
Over the past 15 months, these combined efforts have led to the indictment of 26 individuals, with nine being taken into custody this morning. These accused are responsible for bringing cocaine and violence to the Canton area, stated Anthony. The FBI and its partners remain committed to protecting Canton citizens by dismantling dangerous drug organizations.
The indicted men—Jamail Cortez Mitchell, 22; Chad Irvin Tucker, 24; Cruz M. Brown, 23; Jermaine E. Gaitor, 28, and Kevin Slater, 57—are accused of conspiring to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and over 280 grams of crack cocaine between June 2010 and October 2011 in Canton. They are alleged to have purchased drugs from previously indicted individuals and then resold them.
This case is an addition to the May 22, 2011, indictment that charged 17 people for their role in transporting heroin and cocaine from Columbus to Stark County. All 17 have been found guilty and sentenced to between five and ten years in prison, with Jasmine Watkins, a leader of the conspiracy, facing at least 20 years.
The prosecution is led by Assistant United States Attorney Linda H. Barr, following an investigation by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, which includes Canton, Alliance, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Stark County Sheriff’s Office, Massillon, and Perry police departments.
An indictment is not proof of guilt; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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