Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that a federal jury returned guilty verdicts on Friday, April 1, 2022, against Defendant Juan R. Grogan, 30, of Canton, Ohio, following a two-day trial before Judge Donald C. Nugent in Cleveland. Grogan was found guilty of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, while conducting an investigation, law enforcement officers reviewed video footage from an incident that occurred on December 1, 2020, involving a pair of vehicles driving in the Canton area and exchanging gunfire. Investigators believed that Grogan was the operator of one of the vehicles.
On December 7, 2020, law enforcement officials sought to arrest Grogan on outstanding warrants for kidnapping, aggravated robbery and felonious assault issued by the Canton Municipal Court. During the execution of the warrants, officers located the vehicle used in the earlier shooting parked at a Canton-area residence and witnessed Grogan flee the area.
Officials then searched the vehicle and obtained a loaded Glock, model 30 handgun, additional ammunition, a digital scale and a clear plastic bag containing brown powder. The brown substance was later tested and found to contain 75.6 grams of heroin and fentanyl.
Grogan was later arrested on December 10, 2020. Grogan faces a max possible sentence of life in prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Canton Police Department and Stark County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Damoun Delaviz.