Men caught with 37 pounds of cocaine

CRIME /

CLEVELAND — Six people, including three Clevelandarea men, were federally indicted as part of a drug conspiracy that led to law enforcement seizing more than 37 pounds of cocaine and $511,000.

Marty V. McCaulley, 42, of Lyndhurst; Omar S. Williams, 41, of South Euclid; and Paul V. Cramer, 44, of Willowick, were among those involved in the drug ring, the office of the U.S. attorney for the northern district of Ohio said in a news release.

The other people charged were Adolfo Maya Magadan, 58, of Glenn Heights, Texas; Carl D. Penny, 50, of Oldsmar, Florida, and Renee Ballin Serna, 24, of Chicago.

The six are charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine, the release says. McCaulley and Williams also face weapons charges.

The investigation of the drug ring began in Medina County, according to the release. The Medina County Drug Task Force was working with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Cleveland DEA on a “community impact” investigation before the crews recognized the scale of the operation.

McCaulley is accused of buying about 13 pounds of cocaine from Magadan at a Willoughby Hills hotel on Feb. 3, according to the indictment. Serna acted as the go-between, passing drugs and money between the two men, the indictment says.

McCaulley gave about two pounds of that cocaine to Cramer to sell, the indictment says. After passing cocaine to Cramer, Serna and McCaulley met with Penny at a Willoughby Hills apartment to package the product.

Williams, an associate of McCaulley’s, was caught separately with nearly 18 pounds of cocaine at a South Euclid house on Feb. 4, the indictment states. There was also just over $210,000 inside the house.

Authorities took a total of over 37 pounds of cocaine; more than $511,000; four firearms and a Jeep Wrangler from the ring.

“The fact that several people from out of state are among those facing federal charges should send a strong message that Ohio is looking beyond the local drug dealers to identify suspects higher up in the supply chain,” Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said in the release.