7 Charged in Heroin Trafficking Ring

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio – A grand jury in Columbus, Ohio has charged seven individuals for their roles in a Steubenville-area heroin-trafficking operation.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and William J. Ihlenfeld, II, United States Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Joseph P. Reagan, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Jefferson County Prosecutor Jane M. Hanlin and members of the Jefferson County Drug Task Force and the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force announced the indictment returned on October 20.

The yearlong investigation by local, state and federal law enforcement culminated in the seizure of eight firearms, three vehicles and approximately $110,000 of suspected narcotics proceeds.

According to court documents, investigators discovered the organization was responsible for street-level heroin sales in Steubenville, Ohio, including in the Market Street apartment public housing area, Weirton, W.Va., Wheeling, W.Va. and Bellaire, Ohio.

Those charged in the indictment include:

Frederick A. McShan, 35, of Steubenville, Ohio

Donae F. Grier, 37, of Irving, Texas

Christopher J. Bishop, 31, of Weirton, W.Va.

David McShan, 37, of Steubenville, Ohio

Kerris D. Moncrease, 30, of Weirton, W.Va.

Terrence J. Smith, 26, of Steubenville, Ohio

Perrier D. Coleman, 19, of Steubenville, Ohio

All of the defendants are scheduled for arraignment at 1pm today before U.S. District Chief Judge Edmund A. Sargus.

Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin is a federal crime punishable by 10 years to up to life in prison.

U.S. Attorneys Stewart and Ihlenfeld also commended the cooperative efforts of law enforcement, as well as OCDETF Chief Michael Hunter, Assistant United States Attorney Steve Vogrin and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jane Hanlin who are prosecuting the case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.