20 people arrested in Ohio drug trafficking bust

OHIO — A federal indictment unsealed Tuesday charges 17 Ohio residents in connection with a large-scale drug trafficking organization (DTO) based in Akron.

The group is accused of distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and Alprazolam (commonly known as Xanax) throughout Summit County and Northeast Ohio.

Three additional defendants were indicted separately for their involvement in the conspiracy.

According to court documents, the investigation began in December 2023 and continued through August 2024. The alleged leader, Joe Nathan Sanders-Taylor, 41, of Akron, is accused of overseeing the DTO, which sourced drugs from suppliers linked to the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG or Jalisco Cartel).

Sanders-Taylor allegedly employed multiple individuals to distribute the drugs throughout the region.

Court records state that members of the DTO maintained stash houses in Summit County to store, manufacture, and distribute illegal substances.

Some members also allegedly possessed firearms to protect their drug operations.

Authorities arrested Sanders-Taylor on June 10, 2024, following a police chase on Interstate 77 in Summit County. During the pursuit, he allegedly threw two loaded firearms with high-capacity magazines from his vehicle before crashing and attempting to carjack two separate vehicles.

Investigators later determined he was in possession of distribution amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Sanders-Taylor, who has prior federal convictions, is prohibited from possessing firearms.

The superseding indictment charges the following 17 individuals:

• Joe Nathan Sanders-Taylor, aka Red, 41, Akron
• Brooke Marie Logan, aka Bee, 29, Akron
• Tyrell Jerome Jennings, aka 50, 35, Cleveland
• Christopher Michael Andrews, aka Blondy, 28, Akron
• Crystal Marie Harris, 50, Akron
• Ronald Oscar Clark, 58, Akron
• Chelsey Marie Connelly, 35, Akron
• Angela Grace Wade, 47, Akron
• Demardre Leshawn Johnson, aka Icey, 37, Akron
• Denetris Condra May, aka D-May, aka Mayday, 38, Akron
• John P. Burton, 41, Akron
• Brian Keith Hinkle, aka Hizzle, 38, Akron
• Joshua Lee Hackney, aka Country, 38, Akron
• Matthew Dion Inman, 54, Akron
• Thomas Franklin Casanova, 27, Akron
• Donnie Keith Eugene Schaffer, 30, Akron
• Julia Francesca Stavole-Habimana, 26, Richfield

The indictment alleges the defendants conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and Alprazolam.

Additionally, three other defendants were charged in a separate superseding indictment:

• Robert Parham, 54, Akron
• Laverne Fortson, 50, Akron
• Jeffery Goldbach, 54, Ravenna

According to court documents, in July 2024, Parham was found with 28 firearms, including a machine gun, as well as distribution amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine at his Akron apartment.

Fortson and Goldbach also allegedly possessed narcotics for distribution at their residences.

An indictment is merely a charge, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined based on factors such as prior criminal history, role in the offense, and the nature of the violation.

The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI Akron Field Office, with assistance from multiple local law enforcement agencies.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Dangelo for the Northern District of Ohio.