CLEVELAND, Ohio – In a shocking turn of events, Kindell Smith, a 32-year-old Cleveland resident and member of the notorious 8Ave street gang, was sentenced to over 12 years in prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, crack cocaine, and illegal possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Smith was convicted of participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, crack cocaine, and illegal possession of a firearm. The investigation, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Cleveland Division of Police, and Southeast Area Law Enforcement, began on April 14, 2020, after law enforcement officers encountered Smith distributing fentanyl and cocaine near the 3200 block of Central Avenue in Cleveland.
On May 19, 2020, authorities again encountered Smith, this time with codefendants Darrell Douglas and Dreshawn Maddox, who each have been convicted and sentenced on a prior date, distributing fentanyl from a vehicle. During this encounter, authorities approached the vehicle and ordered the occupants to show their hands. The vehicle then sped away from the scene and struck the driver’s side of a law enforcement vehicle.
Officers removed the occupants from the vehicle and observed Smith attempting to hide a firearm under the driver’s seat. The firearm belonging to Smith was later recovered along with various amounts of fentanyl and crack cocaine. Smith is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous convictions of drug trafficking and felonious assault in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker pronounced the sentence after Smith was convicted of participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, crack cocaine, and illegal possession of a firearm. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Payum Doroodian and Robert F. Corts.
Sentencing Date: [Not specified in the source, only the year 2020] Kindell Smith was sentenced to 146 months (12 years) in prison, a significant blow to the 8Ave street gang and its operations in Cleveland.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of street gangs and the devastating impact they have on our communities. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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