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Federal officials announce indictment of 16 accused of distributing fentanyl

Federal officials announce indictment of 16 accused of distributing fentanyl
Posted at 12:40 PM, Jul 20, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-20 12:41:52-04

CINCINNATI -- A federal grand jury indicted 16 locals on charges related to distribution of fentanyl, maintaining drug-involved premises, firearms offenses and money laundering.

The indictment, announced Thursday, alleges the group distributed more than 400 grams of fentanyl from September 2016 to June 2017, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman.

The following have been charged:

  • Keysean Dearis Dickey, 25, of Mason 
  • Edmond Christian Hurt, 24, of Cincinnati
  • Rajah Amire Swain, 21, of Mason
  • Chrisette Camilla Wade, 25, of Cincinnati
  • Ari Naiem Hodges, 23, of Cincinnati
  • Da’Marco Martez Browner II, 24, of Fairfield
  • Dominic Dashawn Davis, 26, of Cincinnati
  • Chaz Niko Jones, 26, of Cincinnati
  • Christopher Javar Mathews, 29, of Cincinnati
  • Kiarra C. Thomas, 27, of Cincinnati
  • Mykeal Dawshawn Parker, 24, of Cincinnati
  • Devonte Shaunquinn Walker, 23, of Cincinnati
  • Damyia L. Engram, 31, of Cincinnati  
  • Thomesha Walker, 25, of Cincinnati
  • Shonda Denise Jones, 44, of Cincinnati
  • Sherica Lynnae Shields, 24, of Cincinnati

Each of the defendants had assumed various roles in distributing the fentanyl including “leader, supplier of drugs, packager, holder, intermediary, helper, stash house operator and launderer of drug proceeds.” 

Some of the accused had sent and received text messages asking about the quantity and quality of fentanyl. Mathews received this text message in August 2016:  “Chris ur … scale is off. I can take my grand a week else where!”

He received this message a month later: “bro I cant barely move im so sick but no money yet today. Can I get a little bit on credit?”

Some received messages regarding the quality of the drug, like this one: “this…getting supppeerr weak btw kinda sucks a lil” and “…that was pure garbage. Did absolutely nothing. Big waste of $70! Pure waste.”

The indictment alleges that other conversations some of the defendants were involved in discussed drug transactions, undercover police, surveillance and other dealers.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Glassman said six of the defendants are also charged with “laundering thousands of dollars of their drug money by renting dozens of cars, which were in turn used to support the drug-trafficking operation.”

Glassman; Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration; Trevor Velinor, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Paul A. Pride and Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac announced the indictment Thursday.

Assistant United States Attorney Karl P. Kadon is prosecuting the case.