YOUNGSTOWN, OH – A multi-state heroin pipeline has been cracked, with six individuals indicted on a staggering 51-count indictment, authorities announced this week. The operation allegedly funneled the deadly drug from Georgia to the streets of Youngstown, Ohio, between 2013 and November 2014. U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Steven M. Dettelbach, and Joseph P. Reagan, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Detroit office, confirmed the unsealed indictment.
At the heart of the scheme are Vincent D. Moorer, 31, of Lithonia, Ga., and Melvin Johnson, 30, of Youngstown, Ohio. The indictment details how Moorer allegedly supplied Johnson with heroin for distribution throughout the Youngstown area. Johnson, in turn, allegedly pushed the product to John Angelo Smith, 34, of Youngstown, and Jabbar Spires, 37, of Youngstown. Keyonia Moorer, of Akron, and Charity Cousin, of Warren, are also named in the indictment, with Cousin accused of assisting Vincent Moorer in transporting the heroin from Georgia to Ohio.
This wasn’t just a drug operation; it was armed. The indictment alleges both Moorer and Johnson illegally possessed firearms to protect their illicit profits. On September 29, 2014, Vincent Moorer allegedly had a firearm while committing a drug trafficking crime. Further, on November 4, 2014, Moorer was in possession of a Glock, model 27, .40 caliber pistol, with 15 rounds of ammunition, despite a prior conviction for felonious assault in Mahoning County, Ohio. Johnson wasn’t far behind, allegedly possessing a Smith & Wesson, model SW40VE, .40 caliber pistol; a Glock, model 27, .40 caliber pistol; and 29 rounds of ammunition on the same date, despite his own prior convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm and felonious assault.
The feds aren’t stopping at the drugs and guns. The indictment also claims that Moorer, Cousin, Johnson and Keyonia Moorer engaged in a conspiracy to launder money derived from the drug trafficking operation. They allegedly conducted a series of financial transactions specifically designed to hide the origin and ownership of the dirty money. This isn’t just about street-level dealing; it’s a sophisticated attempt to conceal a criminal enterprise.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer is leading the prosecution. While the indictment lays out a detailed case, authorities are quick to point out that it’s only an accusation. Each defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, where the government bears the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The DEA conducted the investigation preceding the indictment.
If convicted, the sentences for the defendants will be determined by the court, taking into account their criminal history, their specific roles in the conspiracy, and the nature of the offenses. However, prosecutors emphasized that any sentence will adhere to statutory maximums and is likely to be less than the maximum allowable by law. This case serves as a grim reminder of the relentless flow of heroin into Ohio communities and the dangers associated with the drug trade.
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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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