Cleveland, Ohio – A Cleveland man who prosecutors say helped run a dangerous fentanyl and cocaine trafficking operation out of his grandmother’s basement has now been sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison, closing one chapter in a case that exposed just how close deadly narcotics can be to ordinary neighborhoods.
Darnell Kief Beckham Bell, 34, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 190 months in prison, which equals 15 years and 8 months, by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams. The sentence came after a jury convicted Bell in September of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. In addition to the prison term, Bell was also sentenced to five years of supervised release, meaning his punishment will continue long after he leaves federal custody.
Authorities said the case stemmed from a wider investigation into suspected drug trafficking in Northeast Ohio, especially fentanyl, which has been linked to a growing number of overdose deaths across the region.
Investigation Leads Agents to a Home on West 137th Street
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, law enforcement began probing suspected narcotics trafficking in 2024. During the investigation, agents focused on activity tied to a house on West 137th Street, where several individuals were repeatedly seen coming and going.
Those frequent visits raised concerns that the home was being used as a base for drug operations. Eventually, investigators executed a federal search warrant at the residence. Bell was taken into custody during the search after agents found evidence of suspected drug activity in the basement of the home, which belonged to his grandmother.
What investigators discovered in that basement painted a troubling picture. Authorities said the items seized included multiple drugs, tools commonly tied to trafficking, and a loaded firearm.
Among the evidence recovered were two digital scales that contained fentanyl, fluorofentanyl, and cocaine residue, suggesting the drugs had been weighed and prepared for distribution. Agents also seized a loaded HK .45 caliber pistol along with a magazine and ammunition. The firearm was later determined to be stolen, adding another disturbing layer to the case.
Additional ammunition was also recovered, including a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber magazine with ammunition.
The drug evidence was extensive. Agents seized 16 bags of narcotics containing a total of 403.25 grams of cocaine base, “crack.” They also recovered two plastic bags containing 139.31 grams of fentanyl, along with 124.29 grams of a mixture of Xylazine, fentanyl, and para-fluorofentanyl, and another 81.76 grams of fentanyl. Investigators also found 2.14 grams of cocaine.
Other items seized included two credit cards with white powder residue, which authorities said supported the case that drugs were being handled and stored in the basement area.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence to the jury that included a comment Bell made while in jail. According to court records, Bell stated that “no one knew about Nana’s basement.” The statement stood out as investigators argued the basement was not just a random location, but a hidden hub for trafficking.
Two co-conspirators charged in the superseding indictment — Loundon Hardy, 30, and Kobe Bell-Beckham, 27, both of Cleveland — have already pleaded guilty to related drug conspiracy, distribution, and possession charges. They are currently awaiting sentencing.
With Bell now sentenced, the case continues to move forward for the remaining defendants as federal authorities pursue accountability in a trafficking ring that investigators say pumped fentanyl and other deadly substances into Northeast Ohio communities.
