(FREMONT, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine joined Sandusky County Sheriff Kyle Overmyer, Ottawa County Sheriff Stephen Levorchick, and Fremont Police Chief Tim Wiersma this afternoon to announce the arrests and indictments of more than two dozen people in three counties today.
The indictments come after several years of investigating by agents with the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and authorities in Sandusky, Ottawa, and Wood counties. Investigators allege that the suspects have ties to the cocaine drug trade.
“The allegations against these suspects are very serious,” said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. “Cocaine ruins lives, and I’m glad my office’s BCI agents were able to work closely with local law enforcement to get the alleged users and traffickers off the streets.”
“This operation is the culmination of extensive police work which was only possible with the cooperative efforts of many law enforcement agencies,” said Ottawa County Sheriff Steve Levorchick.
“After not only being part of this investigation prior to being the Sheriff, but also witnessing the end result, truly shows what Teamwork is all about,” said Sandusky County Sheriff Kyle Overmyer.
Those indicted in the three-county area and arrested today include:
Sandusky County Common Pleas Court
- Chavis J. Freeman – Trafficking in Cocaine (3 counts)
- Juan J. Gonzalez -- Trafficking in Cocaine (3 counts); Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity
- David B. Swartz – Trafficking in Counterfeit Controlled Substance; Trafficking in Cocaine
- Jeremy J. Homler – Trafficking in Counterfeit Controlled Substance; Trafficking in Cocaine
- Roberto Sanchez – Trafficking in Cocaine (3 counts); Trafficking in Crack Cocaine
- Tyson L. Jones – Trafficking in Cocaine (3 counts)
- Amber L. Stevenson – Trafficking in Cocaine (2 counts); Permitting Drug Abuse; Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity
- Leon Garza – Complicity to Trafficking in Cocaine (5 counts); Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity
- Juan Vincent Lopez – Complicity to Trafficking in Cocaine (3 counts); Trafficking in Cocaine
- William Perez – Complicity to Trafficking in Cocaine (5 counts); Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity
- Juan Castillo-Sweet – Complicity to Trafficking in Cocaine; Trafficking in Cocaine
- Keith Gschwind – Complicity to Trafficking in Cocaine (4 counts); Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity
- Rory Sipperley – complicity to Trafficking in Cocaine (4 counts); Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity
- Eusebio Ariola Jr. – Trafficking in Cocaine (3 counts); Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity
- Cameron Allen – Complicity to Trafficking in Cocaine; Trafficking in Cocaine (2 counts); Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity
- Steve Diaz – Complicity to Trafficking in Cocaine (2 counts); Trafficking in Cocaine; Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity
- Emmanuel Heidelburg – Complicity to Trafficking in Cocaine; Trafficking in Cocaine (2 counts); Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity
- Louis Burnett – Complicity to Trafficking in Cocaine (2 counts); Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity
- Joyce Burnett – Complicity to Trafficking in Cocaine (2 counts); Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity
- Andrea Obergon – Trafficking in Cocaine
Wood County Common Pleas Court
- John D. Anderson – Possession of Cocaine
- Rafael Gonzales – Possession of Cocaine
Ottawa County Common Pleas Court
- Roberto Espinoza – Trafficking in Cocaine (2 counts); Complicity to Trafficking in Cocaine
- Patricia Jones – Trafficking in Cocaine (3 counts)
- Carlos Espinoza – Trafficking in Cocaine (5 counts)
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Media Contacts
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Jill Del Greco: 614-466-3840