REBECCA C.

LUTZKO
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thomas P. Weldon

September 5, 2023 [email protected]
(216) 622-3651

59 Charged with Illegal Trafficking, Possession, and Use of

Firearms, Drug Trafficking, and Conspiracy as a Result of Summer
Violent Crime Reduction Effort in Cleveland
CLEVELAND – Federal, county, and local law enforcement officials today announced that
59 individuals were charged and arrested in connection with firearms-trafficking, narcotics,
conspiracy, or other firearms offenses after a three month, violent-crime-reduction initiative in
Cleveland this summer. The vast majority were charged in United States District Court, while
the remaining individuals were charged in state court. These individuals were apprehended in a
series of coordinated arrests made during the last two weeks.

United States Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko made the announcement earlier today. Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) Director Steven M. Dettelbach, United
States Marshal Peter J. Elliott, and Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb provided additional details
relating to the initiative, as well as regarding larger firearms enforcement and violence-prevention
efforts.

Indictments and complaints were recently unsealed in federal court. They detail a lengthy
investigation, led by ATF, that focused on reducing firearms-related crime in several areas of
Cleveland by studying data about areas with gun-crime violence, then identifying illegal firearms
sellers to disrupt their trafficking. The investigation resulted in the seizure of over 240 firearms,
203 of which law enforcement purchased from illegal sellers and permanently removed from
Cleveland’s streets. NIBIN data shows that a significant number of those firearms are connected
to violent criminal activity, including homicides and felonious assaults, that took place in
Cleveland and surrounding Northeast Ohio suburbs in 2022 and 2023. Of the purchased
firearms, 17 are “ghost guns”—meaning, unserialized and untraceable firearms, typically
assembled at home—and 28 are machinegun conversion devices or “switches”—a device that
enables a firearm to fire in fully automatic mode.

In one case, law enforcement purchased more than 50 firearms from a group of 7 people working
together to sell firearms on Cleveland’s streets, even though none of the involved individuals
holds a federal firearms license. Those firearms included stolen firearms, firearms with
obliterated serial numbers, “switches,” already-loaded firearms, assault rifles, and firearms that
had been previously used to commit violent crimes. Sometimes, these individuals also sold
controlled substances to law enforcement officers at the same time. In two additional cases, law
enforcement purchased, respectively, 33 firearms (including “switches”) and 23 firearms
(including “switches”) from two other individuals who do not hold a federal firearms license.
Many of these sales took place in public parking lots of business establishments during business
hours or in recreational areas while nearby uninvolved, law-abiding citizens were engaged in
their day-to-day errands or engaged in recreational activities.

Also during this investigation, the ATF identified 5 individuals who were actively engaged in a
conspiracy to conduct a home invasion and rob, at gunpoint, what they believed to be a “stash
house” containing several kilograms of cocaine. Law enforcement intervened before these
individuals could carry out their plan. Additionally, during this investigation, law enforcement
purchased or seized almost 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, 215 grams of cocaine base, almost
3 kilograms of methamphetamine, 686 fentanyl pills, almost 1.5 kilograms of heroin/fentanyl
mix, and 1,144 MDMA pills (otherwise known as Molly or Ecstasy).

Some defendants were charged together, but several others were charged individually. In all
cases, however, the charges stemmed from the extensive, targeted, and sustained effort this past
summer, led by ATF and assisted by other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, to
clamp down on the illegal firearms trafficking, use, and possession, as well as the associated
distribution of drugs, in Cleveland.

The following is a breakdown of the charges in United States District Court, according to court
documents:

 MALACHI BERRY, 21, Cleveland, DARVELL JACKSON, 20, Cleveland, and

STEVEN ARMSTRONG, 19, Cleveland, were charged together in a Conspiracy to
Possess a Machinegun. JACKSON and ARMSTRONG were further charged with Illegal
Possession of a Machinegun.

In the same indictment, these individuals, along with NIMAR LINDER, 21, Cleveland,
were also charged with Conspiracy to Engage in the Business of Dealing Firearms
without a Federal Firearms License.

ARMSTRONG and LINDER were charged as Felons in Possession of a Firearm.

 According to court documents, the following individuals have been indicted on

Distribution of Drugs charges:

CARLOS DUPREE, 43, Cleveland, DOMINIQUE GOLDSBY, 32, Cleveland, JESSE

MCDADE, 41, Cleveland, NORMAN YOUNG, 37, Cleveland, MARTIN
GOODSON, 41, Cleveland, LAJUAN ERWIN, 25, Mayfield Heights, CHEVEZ
MOORER, 23, Cleveland, AARON WIMBLEY, 22, Garfield Heights, ALEXANDER
DUNCAN, 19, Cleveland, DAMIEN BODY, 39, Cleveland, DERRICK DONALD, 41,
Cleveland, NAHUM HOLMES, 31, Brook Park, AKIL EDMONDS, 39, Cleveland,
WILLIE C. JACKSON, 36, Cleveland, and DEANDRE SMITH, 36, Cleveland.

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 Indicted together were JOSEAN ORTIZ-STUART, 34, Cleveland, JESUS VEGA, 29,
Cleveland, who were both charged with Distribution of Drugs. Also named in that
indictment was GERALD MATOS, 38, Cleveland, who was charged with being a Felon
in Possession of a Firearm.

 Indicted together were ELIAS PAGAN 32, Cleveland, IVAN SANTANA, 26, Cleveland,
ANGEL SANTIAGO, 46, also of Cleveland. PAGAN also faces numerous charges for
Distribution of Drugs, as well being a Felon in Possession of Firearms, and both PAGAN
and SANTANA were also charged with Engaging in the Business of Importing,
Manufacturing, or Dealing in Firearms Without a Federal Firearms License.
SANTIAGO is also charged with Distribution of Drugs.

 AMBRAY UNDERWOOD, 25, Euclid, was charged in an indictment for Conspiracy to

Distribute Drugs, and Drug Distribution.

 WILLIE EARL JACKSON, 26, Cleveland, and SHANE PLATS, 31, Ashtabula, were
charged in the same indictment with Engaging in the Business of Dealing Firearms
without a Federal Firearms License. WIILIE EARL JACKSON was also charged in that
indictment with Trafficking in Firearms.

 DESHONN BROWN age, 19, Cleveland; DEMARIUS JEFFERSON, 18, Cleveland,

were both charged with Illegal Possession of Machineguns.

 JACOB PLUMB, 40, Parma, was charged with Distribution of Drugs and Possession of a
Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.

 ISAIAH OVERTON, 23, Cleveland, and CHARLES MORRIS, 33, East Cleveland, were
charged in a single indictment with Distribution of Drugs. Additionally, OVERTON was
charged with Using and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking
Crime.

 CORTE’Z BUGGS, 29, Cleveland was charged in an indictment with Distribution of

Drugs and Receipt of Firearm while Under Felony Indictment.

 MICHAEL MCPHERRAN, 38, Parma, Ohio, was charged with Conspiracy to Distribute
Drugs, and Distribution of Drugs.

 HAROLD PEARL, 39, Cleveland, was charged with Distribution of Drugs and being a
Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

 Charged by complaint with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Drugs and
Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime were ALANTE
HEARD, 33, Cleveland, ANTONIO SWEENEY, 24, Cleveland, MAURICE
COMMONS, 22, North Randall, and MARKUS WILLIAMS, 33, Cleveland.

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 Charged with being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm were MARQUIS HENSON, 38,
Cleveland, DEON BROWN, 19, Cleveland, and CLARENCE PAYNE, 38, Cleveland.

 KENNETH SMITH, 23, East Cleveland, was charged with Engaging in the Business of
Dealing Firearms without a Federal Firearms License, Illegal Possession of a
Machinegun, and being a Felon in Possession of Firearms.

 ANDRE LEWIS, 35, Cleveland, was charged with Distribution of Drugs and Using and
Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime.

 DEVAUNTY LEWIS, 31, Cleveland, NICHOLAS JOHNSON, 33, Cleveland, were

charged jointly in an indictment with Conspiracy to Engage in the Business of Importing,
Manufacturing, or Dealing in Firearms without a Federal Firearms License, and
Conspiracy to Engage in Firearms Trafficking. Both were individually charged with
Engaging Business in Dealing with Firearms Without a License and Trafficking in Firearms.

LEWIS was also charged with being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

JOHNSON was also charged with Engaging in the Business of Importing,

Manufacturing, or Dealing in Firearms without a Federal Firearms License.

 The following were charged in an indictment with Conspiracy to Engage in the Business
of Importing, Manufacturing, or Dealing in Firearms Without a Federal Firearms
License: MAURICE STERETT, 39, Cleveland, ANTONIO CROSS, 22, Cleveland,
MARVELL ROACH, 43, Willoughby, KENNETH TIMBERLAKE, 30, Cleveland, and
TRAVIS WILLIAMS, 46, Cleveland.

STERETT, CROSS, TIMBERLAKE, and WILLIAMS were further charged,

individually, with Engaging in the Business of Importing, Manufacturing, or Dealing in
Firearms Without a Federal Firearms License.

STERETT, CROSS, ROACH, TIMBERLAKE, and WILLIAMS were also charged with
Conspiracy to Engage in Firearms Trafficking and individual counts of Firearms
Trafficking.

STERETT, TIMBERLAKE, TRAVIS WILLIAMS, and ROACH were also charged with
being a Felon in Possession of Firearms.

STERETT was further charged with Distribution of Drugs.

Finally, CROSS was also charged with Illegal Transfer of a Machinegun.

 DARION SHELTON, 20, Cleveland, was charged with Engaging in the Business of
Dealing Firearms without a Federal Firearms License, and Trafficking in Firearms in
connection with machinegun conversation devices or “switches.” He has also been
charged with Illegal Possession of a Machinegun.

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The following is a breakdown of the charges in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas,
according to court documents:

 MARCEL BATTLE, 30, Canton, Drug Trafficking.

 AVANT WILSON, 22, Cleveland, Receiving Stolen Property (Motor Vehicle).

 NATHAN ROBY, 44, Cleveland, Drug Trafficking.

 RAYMOND CALLAHAN, 34, Cleveland, Drug Trafficking.

 RAPHAEL DEEN, 30, Cleveland, Drug Trafficking.

 TERRY LYONS, 33, Cleveland, Drug Trafficking.

An indictment or complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled
to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt.

If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors
unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role
in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed
the statutory maximum, and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictments was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), with assistance from the Cleveland Division of Police
(“CDP”), the United States Marshals Service (“USMS”), the Drug Enforcement Administration
(“DEA”), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), the Department of Homeland Security
Investigations (“HIS”), the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (“BCI”), the Ohio Adult
Parole Authority (“APA”), the Ohio Investigative Unit (“OIU”), Customs and Border Patrol
(“CBP”), Air and Marine Division, the Ohio State Highway Patrol (“OSP”), and the Cuyahoga
County Sheriff’s Office. The cases stemming from this investigation are being prosecuted by a
team of AUSAs in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by AUSA Kelly Galvin, and by the Cuyahoga
County Prosecutor’s Office.

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