YOUNGSTOWN, OH – A sweeping federal and state law enforcement operation has slammed the door on a major heroin distribution network operating in and around Youngstown, Ohio. A federal grand jury indicted 16 individuals, while an additional 37 face charges in state court, bringing the total number of defendants to 53. The takedown, announced today, sends a clear message: pushing poison onto the streets of the Mahoning Valley will not go unpunished.
United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Steven M. Dettelbach, laid out the grim reality: “This group brought heroin into Youngstown and used firearms to do it.” The investigation, spanning nearly two years, revealed a sophisticated operation where drugs were supplied, distributed, and protected with deadly force. FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony emphasized the scale of the bust, stating, “Fifty-three individuals were taken off the streets today as a result of an in-depth, almost two-year joint investigation.”
The 119-count federal indictment names a core group of alleged traffickers: Jean Carlos Martinez, 31, of Campbell; Alberto Delgado, 28, of Youngstown; Chael Soto, 28, of Youngstown; Steven M. Filimon, 28, of Youngstown; Michael L. Schmidt, 35, of New Castle, Penn.; Osvaldo Rivera, age and hometown unknown; Carlos Cruz, 39, of Youngstown; Alexander Torres, 43, of Youngstown; Florentino Torres, 45, of Youngstown; Edgardo Esteras, 23, of Campbell; Juan F. Ortiz, age unknown, of Bayamon, P.R.; Felix Calderon, 25, of San Juan, P.R.; Rafael J. Medina-Vazquez, 35, of Youngstown; Amanda J. Leskey, 25, of Youngstown; Yolanda R. Rivera, 55, of Youngstown, and Jennifer L. Hake, 28, of Youngstown. All are accused of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distribute, heroin between January 2012 and November 30, 2014.
According to court documents, Martinez allegedly served as a key supplier, feeding heroin to Delgado, Soto, Cruz, Alexander Torres, Florentino Torres, Estaras, Ortiz, and Rivera for street-level distribution. Delgado, in turn, allegedly supplied Schmidt with heroin for distribution in New Castle, Pennsylvania, and funneled product to Filimon and Hake within Youngstown. The indictment further alleges that Delgado and Filimon both possessed firearms to safeguard their illicit profits. Investigators found evidence that the network utilized encrypted communications – cellular telephones and coded language – to mask their activities.
A separate eight-count federal indictment targets Filimon and Randy A. Triplett, 24, of Youngstown, alleging a parallel drug trafficking scheme involving heroin and cocaine from May 2014 through November 30, 2014. Triplett is accused of supplying Filimon with the narcotics for distribution. Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene and Youngstown Police Chief Robin Lees, in a joint statement, hailed the operation as a victory in the ongoing battle against the heroin epidemic, highlighting the critical cooperation between local and federal agencies.
While the indictments represent a significant blow to the drug network, the ultimate fate of the defendants will be determined by the courts. Sentencing will consider individual criminal histories, roles in the conspiracy, and the specifics of the offenses. Prosecutors caution that sentences, while subject to judicial discretion, will not exceed statutory maximums. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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