Man accused of having drugs shipped from China

N. Ridgeville man charged with attempting to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl

A 33-year-old North Ridgeville man has been charged with attempting to possess with intent to distribute a fentanyl analogue, according to a news release.

Daniel R. Rogerson-Wise was having the drug mailed to a house on Grant Drive in North Ridgeville through the U.S. Postal Service, according to the release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District of Ohio.

An affidavit filed in the case said the Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigation received word from U.S. Customs and Border Protection of a package containing fentanyl was coming to the country from China, the release said.

Agents examined the package March 13 at the North Ridgeville post office.

According to the affidavit, the package contained 10 grams of a white crystalized substance, which was later identified as fluorol-sobutyryl fentanyl, a synthetic opioid.

It was addressed to a Grant Drive home and had a return address in Hong Kong.

On March 20, agents were informed of another package, also containing fentanyl, on its way to the U.S. from China, according to the release.

The package also was addressed to the Grant Drive home with a Hong Kong return address. The contents of the package contained more than 10 grams of the same synthetic opioid, the affidavit said.

A law enforcement officer contacted Rogerson-Wise in the guise of a postal employee March 29 and Rogerson-Wise told the officer he was expecting the package, the release said.

Officers replaced the contents of the package and delivered it to the Grant Drive home.

The affidavit said Rogerson-Wise approached the home and later admitted to opening the package.

He told investigators he had ordered an opioid which he believed was legal; he called it research chemical fib F. He also told investigators he has had approximately 30 grams of the substance shipped from China.

Investigators also searched an apartment on Ignatius Avenue in Cleveland, which Rogerson-Wise identified as a possible residence.

In a bedroom in which Rogerson-Wise slept, investigators found his birth certificate, a loaded Smith and Wesson revolver and two notebooks, according to the affidavit.

The case against Rogerson-Wise will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Cronin and the investigation was conducted by Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the North Ridgeville Police Department, the release said.