Meth Kingpins Indicted in Ohio Meth Smuggling Ring

Shakedown hits the streets of Cleveland as four alleged kingpins face federal charges for their roles in a massive methamphetamine distribution ring. Rafael Smith, 47, Robert Coore, a Jamaican national, Shuree Jefferson, 41, and Jeffrey Westmoreland, 30, are all charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess methamphetamine, totaling 16 pounds.

Coore and Smith reportedly met repeatedly with an undercover agent in various Ohio cities to peddle vast amounts of the illegal drug. Coore boasted of his California connections to arrange bulk shipments, even seeking help from the agent for a Northeast Ohio warehouse fit for massive drug deliveries.

The grim reality of their operation came crashing down on April 23 when Coore was nabbed with four pounds of meth and Smith was arrested in Aurora with three pounds. Federal prosecutors are aiming to seize nearly $48,000 in cash linked to the operation.

Coore faces additional charges for illegal reentry into the U.S., having been deported just a year prior. The case has been jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the DEA, and the Cleveland Division of Police.

Judge Sweeney of the U.S. Attorney’s Office will determine sentences based on individual roles within the conspiracy, with no sentence exceeding statutory maximums. Remember, an indictment is just a charge, not proof of guilt.

The defendants are entitled to a fair trial where the burden of proof lies on the government to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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