Drug and Firearms Charges Filed Against Youngstown Heroin Ring

A 19-count federal indictment was filed charging 12 people with narcotics and firearms crimes related to a three-year conspiracy that brought heroin from Chicago and other areas to Youngtown, Ohio, law enforcement officials said.

At the same time, several people were charged in state court in related cases.

The heroin was sold from houses on Brentwood and Glenwood avenues. Officers seized more than $150,000 in cash, six firearms, and body armor as part of the investigation, according to the indictment.

“This ring brought heroin in from out of state and sold it on the streets on Youngstown,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “We will continue to do these kinds of exhaustive investigations designed at shutting off the stream of illegal drugs.”

“Thanks to the efforts of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors in the Mahoning Valley, a significant amount of money, weapons, and drugs have been seized during this three-year investigation,” said Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland Office. “With today’s actions, the flow of heroin into the Mahoning Valley from Chicago is disrupted and a violent criminal gang is off the street.”

Those charged in the federal indictment are:

Tyrone Gilbert, aka South Youngstown, Ohio, age: 34

John Perdue, aka Fresh Youngstown, Ohio, age: 31

Tremayne Collins, aka Maniac, aka Main Youngstown, Ohio, age: 36

Alexis Perez, aka Scar Youngstown, Ohio, age: 30

Rafael Samniego, aka Chino Youngstown, Ohio, age: 20

Luis Brisino Rockford, Illinois, age: 32

Dwayne Thomas, aka Weezie Youngstown, Ohio, age: 31

Edwin Thomas, aka Frog Youngstown, Ohio, age: 29

Danielle Littles, aka Pocket Boardman, Ohio, age: 31

Rodney Moses, aka Romo Youngstown, Ohio, age: 37

Rogelio Rojas-Pena, aka Tito Youngstown, Ohio, age: 24

John Helms Youngstown, Ohio, age: 49

Count one of the indictment charges the following defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin: Tyrone Gilbert, aka South; John Perdue, aka Fresh; Tremayne Collins, aka Maniac, aka Main; Alexis Perez, aka Scar; Rafael Samniego, aka Chino; Dwayne Thomas, aka Weezie; Edwin Thomas, aka Frog; Danielle Littles, aka Pocket; Rodney Moses, aka Romo; Rogelio Rojas-Pena, aka Tito; John Helms; and Luis Brisino.

The indictment also charges John Helms with maintaining a drug-involved premises. Further, Tyrone Gilbert and Rodney Moses were charged with being felons in possession of firearms and ammunition. Several of the defendants were also charged with using communication facilities (cellular telephones) to facilitate drug trafficking offenses.

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

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted from March 2009 through March 2012 by the FBI Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force (MVVCTF) and the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force (MVLETF). The matter was presented to the grand jury and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David M. Toepfer.

An indictment 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.