Man faces drug trafficking charges

Accused of selling fentanyl

A 24-year-old Lorain man is facing felony charges after police said he was selling drugs.

Aalijah J. Rico was charged with aggravated trafficking of fentanyl, a first-degree felony, and aggravated possession of fentanyl, a second-degree felony, according to Lorain police Sgt. Dennis Camarillo.

The charges were the result of a week long investigation the Lorain Police Department conducted with Elyria police and the DEA, Camarillo said.

Rico was on the department’s radar due to his previous convictions for weapons, drug trafficking and gang-related activity, he said.

On officer stopped Rico after observing him littering out of his vehicle and driving without a valid driver’s license, Camarillo said.

Police searched Rico and found him in possession of $16,000, he said.

Detectives felt this was suspicious because he is not gainfully employed, Camarillo said.

Following that stop, authorities continued surveillance on Rico and observed him at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 12 in the area of 2000 Cooper Foster Road engaging in activity consistent with trafficking drugs, Camarillo said.

Officers stopped him and found that he possessed two small bags of fentanyl totaling a gram, he said.

Due to the recent opioidepidemic, Camarillo said authorities informed Rico’s probation officer of the drug possession, and both the probation agency and Lorain police searched Rico’s home in the 2700 block of West 37th Street.

Police found 118 grams of fentanyl, Camarillo said.

Due to the opioid epidemic, Rico could be prosecuted at the federally, he said.

This is through operation SOS (synthetic opioid surge) which was created by U. S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and features federal prosecution for every readily provable case involving the distribution of fentanyl, fentanyl analogues and other synthetic opioids, regardless of drug quantity, Camarillo said.

Synthetic opioid surge is in effect in districts with the highest drug overdose rates, according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s website.

Rico is in the Lorain County Jail on a $1 million bond. He must appear at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 23 before Lorain Municipal Court Judge Thomas J. Elwell Jr.

Rico