Roman Hernandez, 38, of Grove City, has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for his role in distributing heroin and laundering money. The sentence was handed down by Senior U.S. District Judge James L. Graham in U.S. District Court.
Hernandez pleaded guilty to one count of possession with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and one count of money laundering. The charges stem from a joint investigation conducted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Central Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.
According to court documents, Hernandez was identified as a narcotics trafficker involved in the sale of heroin. Investigators executed a search warrant at his home on Norwood Street in Columbus on April 9, 2013, and seized over $55,000 in cash, as well as financial records and documents detailing the purchase of a home for $70,000 in cash.
The investigation also revealed that Hernandez had withdrawn $26,000 from his personal checking account and purchased a cashier’s check to be used towards the purchase of the home. The funds used by Hernandez to purchase the property were proceeds he derived from the sale of narcotics.
The sentence was announced by Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, along with other members of the Central Ohio HIDTA Task Force. U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation and prosecution of the case, which was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Prichard.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the heroin epidemic in Ohio. The Central Ohio HIDTA Task Force is a multi-agency task force that works to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating in the region. The task force is comprised of agents and officers from the IRS, ATF, and other local and federal agencies.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Glassman praised the work of the task force and the prosecution team, saying that their efforts had resulted in a significant sentence for a major player in the heroin trade. The sentence of 60 months in prison reflects the seriousness of the charges and the impact of Hernandez’s actions on the community.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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