Massillon man indicted for trafficking cocaine

A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Antonio Cuevas-Baltazar, 21, of Massillon with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, said U.S. Attorney Carole S. Rendon.

Cuevas-Baltazar possessed with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine on Jan. 2, according to the indictment.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including 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 sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason M. Katz.

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.