CLEVELAND – Federal, state, local, and international law enforcement officials today announced that 11 individuals were charged for their roles in an international drug trafficking conspiracy that involved the importation of fentanyl, synthetic opioids, and synthetic cannabinoids into the United States, and the distribution of those drugs in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, and elsewhere domestically. Several charged defendants were arrested earlier this morning and transported to federal court in Cleveland, while the others are in custody elsewhere, including Italy.
This announcement is made by United States Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko, DEA Special Agent in Charge Orville Greene, and Ohio Director of Public Safety Andy Wilson.
“From the confines of the Ohio Penitentiary, Brian Lumbus led an international and interstate drug trafficking organization that brought fentanyl and other, more potent synthetic drugs from overseas factories to the streets of our region,” said United States Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko. “Several others, both in the United States and outside it, acted in concert with Lumbus to do what he physically could not: obtain, assemble, and repackage those drugs, then mail or deliver them to other conspirators for further distribution. As this indictment reflects, the United States Attorney’s Office will continue its collaborative efforts with federal, state, local, and international partners to identify, target, and dismantle drug trafficking organizations, whether the suppliers of such poisons are in the Northern District of Ohio or a continent away. I thank our partners at DEA, the Ohio Department of Public Safety, and the Italian government for their tireless efforts to identify and apprehend significant players in the illegal drug trade.”
“As alleged in today’s indictment, the defendants orchestrated an international conspiracy to peddle fentanyl and other deadly drugs across the Ohio Valley, with complete disregard for the lives of their victims,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Alongside our law enforcement partners across the country and around the world, the Justice Department will relentlessly pursue all those who seek to profit from poisoning Americans—including when they try to exploit international boundaries and digital currencies to disguise their illicit trade.”
“Brian Lumbus led an elaborate drug trafficking network that imported dangerous synthetic drugs and other substances from foreign-based suppliers to then distribute to customers throughout the region” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Orville Greene. “The outstanding assistance and support DEA received from our foreign and domestic counterparts led to the successful apprehension of Lumbus and his co-conspirators. Today’s actions send a clear message that law enforcement will work locally, and even across international borders, to seek justice against criminal organizations.”
“Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Public Safety are extremely proud of the work done by the investigative team in this case,” said Director Andy Wilson, “This investigation is an excellent example of the great work that can be done when you have seamless cooperation between state, federal and international partners. The work done by this investigative team will truly make Ohio a safer place for our friends, our families, and our children.”
The following defendants are charged in the 34-count indictment:
- Brian Lumbus, Jr., AKA B, 43, of Cleveland, Ohio,
- Giancarlo Miserotti, AKA Karl, 51, of Italy,
- Brianna Lumbus, 22, of Cleveland, Ohio,
- Kayla S. Goudlock, 25, of North Royalton, Ohio,
- Jennifer Robinson, 38, of Tennessee,
- Latasha Harris, 40, of Toledo, Ohio,
- Dominique Hammond, 37, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
- Wanda Ward, 46, of Johnson City, Tennessee,
- Marchello Lumbus, AKA Chello, 42, of Cleveland, Ohio,
- Jessica Cochran, 28, of Lorain, Ohio,
- Braisia Lumbus, 23, of Cleveland, Ohio.
The defendants were all charged in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Additionally, six defendants were charged with substantive possession with intent to distribute controlled substances offenses. Nine defendants were charged with interstate travel in aid of racketeering, and eight were charged in an international money laundering conspiracy. Finally, nine of the defendants were charged with using a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.
According to the indictment, between as early as April 28, 2016, and continuing through November 1, 2023, the defendants did knowingly and intentionally conspire with each other to distribute and possess with the intention to distribute mixtures and substances containing fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance; as well as Isotonitazene, Metonitazene, Alpha-PiHP, and ADB-BUTINACA, all Schedule I synthetic opioid or cannabinoid controlled substances.
While incarcerated in an Ohio state prison, Brian Lumbus, Jr., orchestrated the operation, ordering significant quantities of these drugs from Giancarlo Miserotti, an Italian citizen and resident. Miserotti arranged for kilogram quantities of these controlled substances to be exported from several foreign countries first to Italy, then to the United States, for redistribution by conspiracy members. Investigators with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction discovered evidence of the criminal activity of this group in the institution and they immediately alerted the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the DEA for further investigation. It was determined that U.S.-based conspirators received the foreign shipments, cut and mixed the drugs, and redistributed them. Other members of the conspiracy used Bitcoin cryptocurrency to pay Miserotti for the drugs.
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.
If convicted, each 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 violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The investigation preceding the indictments was conducted by the DEA, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colleen Egan and Robert J. Kolansky. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance.