Gregory G. Lockhart, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Ohio; Timothy P. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Cincinnati Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Albert J. Rodenberg, Jr., Sheriff, Clermont County Sheriff's Office; Raymond Snyder, Chief, Goshen Township Police Department; Tom Ariss, Sheriff, Warren County Sheriff's Office; John Monce, Superintendent, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI&I); and John Burke, Commander, Warren County Drug Task Force; announced the indictments of eleven individuals as part of a joint effort to dismantle a major narcotics trafficking operation in the eastern suburbs of Cincinnati. The investigation which led to this indictment included the largest narcotics seizure in Clermont County history when 3/4 ton of marijuana, which allegedly had been transported from Arizona for sale in the Cincinnati area, was seized on June 13, 2006.
On December 6, 2006 a Federal Grand Jury indicted the following individuals:
WALTER KENNETH BYRD, age 58, Lebanon Road, Loveland, Ohio; WILLIAM MARK MUELLER, age 45, Church Street, Newtown, Ohio; and FORREST COFFMAN, JR., age 41, Louanne Lane, Loveland, Ohio, were charged with violations of Title 21, U.S. Code Sections 841(a)(1) [5 counts], 841 (b)(1)(A), 841(b)(1)(B) [4 counts], 846 and Title 18, U.S. Code Section 2 [4 counts].
JOSE ALFONSO SILVEYRA, age 42, Glendale, Arizona; JEFFREY MARK GERACI, age 50, Hartwell, Ohio; JOHN JAY GERACI, age 45, Glendale-Milford Rd., Loveland, Ohio; TONY CURTIS HAMMONS, age 51, residence unknown; STANLEY ALVIN BYRD, age 63, Whispering Wind Ln., Amelia, Ohio; JAMES CURTIS DARST, age 54, Seminole Trail, Milford, Ohio; and ANDRE MANUEL RAY, age 45, Robert Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio, were charged with violations of Title 21, U.S. Code Sections 841(a)(1), 841 (b)(1)(A), and 846.
EDWARD JOSEPH BURNS, age 52, Byrdstown, Tennessee, was charged with violations of Title 21, U.S. Code Sections 841(a)(1), 841 (b)(1)(A), 846 and Title 18, U.S. Code Section 2.
The indictment alleges that those charged operated a marijuana trafficking organization that moved large quantities of the narcotic, from Arizona to the Cincinnati area. Burns is charged with bringing almost 3/4 ton of marijuana to Clermont County in a 2000 GMC Box Truck in June where it was seized at Coffman's home. Byrd and Mueller are charged with operating a fictitious business, KenMark Distributing, to hide the transportation of the marijuana. Byrd, Mueller and Hammonds are charged with using the proceeds of the illegal narcotics activity to operate The Reef Bar, a riverside restaurant in Kentucky.
The following information is provided regarding the charged offenses:
Title 21, U.S. Code Section 841(a)(1); 841(b)(1)(A); and 841(b)(1)(B): Distribution of a controlled substance; maximum penalty of 20 years to life imprisonment.
Title 21, U.S. Code Section 846: Conspiracy; maximum penalty of 20 years to life imprisonment.
Title 18, U.S. Code Section 2: Acting as a principal in the commission of an offense. Punishable at the same level as the person who commits the offense.
As of 10:30 am on December 7, Mueller, Jeffrey Gercaci, John Geraci, Stanley Byrd, Coffman and Darst had been arrested in the Cincinnati area by FBI agents, Clermont County Sheriff's Deputies and other law enforcement personnel. Walter Byrd was arrested this morning at Albuquerque, New Mexico by FBI agents.
All of the individuals arrested in Ohio will appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for an initial appearance today at the Federal Courthouse in Cincinnati.Deputy U.S. Marshals and U.S. Pretrial Services Officers will assist in the processing of these prisoners.
In addition to the individuals being charged in this matter the indictment orders the forfeiture of two residences, one in Cincinnati and one in Glendale, Arizona; 25 vehicles; and two bank accounts.
There will be a press conference at 2pm on December 7, 2006 at the Clermont County Sheriff's Office, 4470 St. Rt. 222, Batavia, Ohio where law enforcement officials involved in this investigation will be available for comment and copies of the indictment will be distributed.
The public is reminded that indictments contain only allegations of criminal misconduct and that a defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
By FBI
Posted December 9th, 2006 by Dinka
