3 people indicted in connection to drug trafficking

A Lorain man and an Elyria man were two of three people indicted in federal court on drug trafficking in Lorain County through a coordinated, cooperative law enforcement effort targeting opioid distribution, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Doyal Cannon, 33, of Elyria; Aaron Matthews, 35, of Lorain; and Ramon Collins, 36, of Cleveland, were indicted, the release said.

Cannon was indicted on charges of possession with the intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, as well as firearms charges.

On June 13, Cannon had more than two grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin and seven grams of cocaine, according to the release.

He also had a Glock .40-caliber handgun and ammunition, despite prior convictions that made it illegal for him to have a firearm, including cocaine trafficking, being a felon in possession of a firearm and other crimes, the release said.

Cannon was on supervised release from a previous federal

firearm conviction June 13 based on court documents, the release said.

Matthews was indicted on 11 counts related to the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, 3-Methylfentanyl and/or cocaine, as well as two firearms counts, according to the release.

He possessed a Kel-Tec 9 mm Luger pistol and ammunition Dec. 13, in relation to his drug trafficking activities, the release said.

It also was illegal for Matthews to have a firearm because of his prior drug and firearms convictions based on court documents, according to the release.

Collins was indicted on charges of distribution of fentanyl and distribution of heroin and fentanyl.

On July 17, he possessed nearly seven grams of fentanyl; four days later, he possessed nearly 29 grams of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl based on court documents, the release said.

“These indictments, along with our activities of the past month, should make it clear that Lorain County is closed for business when it comes to drug trafficking,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Many of these defendants are dangerous because they illegally have firearms

while selling opioids and other drugs that have caused so much death and destruction in our community.

“All of our law enforcement partners are working together to stem the flow of these drugs into our neighborhoods. If you sell opioids in Lorain County, you are facing federal prison time.”

Elyria police Chief Duane Whitely said his department’s relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office has removed drug dealers from the city.

“The Elyria Police Department is grateful for the outstanding working relationship we share with the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Whitely said. “Officers from our department investigated several drug complaints and were able to build a case and arrest several drug dealers.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office took the cases and received indictments on all of them. I look forward to working together to take many more drug dealers off the streets of Elyria.”

The Cannon case was investigated by Elyria police and the FBI; Matthews and Collins cases were investigated by the Lorain County Drug Task Force and the Lorain County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert F. Corts and Vasile Katsaros are prosecuting the cases.

Operation S.O.S. was announced

last month by Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Herdman. Since then, numerous individuals were charged or indicted in federal court. Among them:

• Kenneth Ward was charged in a multiple count indictment with various drug distribution counts, including the sale of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, and was investigated by Elyria police.

• Christopher Robinson Jr. was indicted in a multiple count indictment with various drug distribution counts, including the sale of heroin and fentanyl, and was investigated by Elyria police.

• Dennis A. Smith was indicted on multiple counts of drug distribution, including the sale of heroin and fentanyl, and was investigated by Elyria police.

• Ronald Johnson Jr. was indicted on distributing heroin, and was investigated by Elyria police.

• Dwayne Taylor was charged with distribution of heroin and fentanyl. At the time of Taylor’s arrest, he allegedly possessed a firearm and ammunition. Elyria police investigated.

• Christopher D. Chapman was indicted on distribution of N-Methyl Norfentanyl and cocaine, and was investigated by Elyria police.

• Todd Coleman was charged with distribution of cocaine and fentanyl and was investigated by Lorain Police Department.