Lorain, Elyria men charged with distributing drugs

Two Lorain County men were charged in federal court on trafficking of opioids, according to law enforcement officials in a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the North District of Ohio.

Manuel Latorre, 26, of Lorain, was named in a two-count indictment on possessing with intent to sell more than 9 grams of carfentanil this year, the release said.

Tony O. Carter, 28, of Elyria, was charged with possession with intent to distribute a mix of fentanyl and heroin.

Carter was out on bond from Lorain County Common Pleas Court when he committed the new offense, according to the release.

The charges were announced Dec. 15 by U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman, Lorain County Prosecutor Dennis Will, FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen D. Anthony, DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Timothy Plancon, Elyria police Chief Duane Whitely, Lorain police Chief Cel Rivera and Lorain County Sheriff Phil Stammitti.

These charges represent the continuation of a coordinated effort on behalf of federal, state and local law enforcement to target those who sell illegal opioids in Lorain County, according to the release.

“The drugs involved in these cases could have wiped out a city block,” Herdman said in the release. “We will continue to work together and seek prison sentences for those who sell the drugs that kill our friends and neighbors.”

“These arrests and indictments make the citizens of Lorain County safer,” said Lorain police Capt. Roger Watkins.

Among those previously indicted and prosecuted in federal court as part of this coordinated effort are:

• Octavious Smith, 38, of Elyria, is serving 20 years in federal prison for distribution of cocaine and heroin and being a felon in possession of a firearm..

• Jason Vasquez, 37, of Lorain, serving 10 years in federal prison for trafficking heroin in Lorain County, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

• Anetaeus Spencer, 33, of Lorain, serving more than 12 years in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition and several firearms, and selling heroin and crack cocaine.

• Siarres Noble, 29, of Elyria, serving 20 years in prison for distributing heroin and fentanyl, including fentanyl that caused death of an Elyria resident.

• Anthony Paul Montoy, 40, and Fred Alston, 60, both of Elyria, convicted of conspiracy to distribute kilograms of cocaine in Lorain County.

Montoy is serving 11 years in federal prison and Alston eight years in federal prison.