Cleveland, Ohio – A sweeping federal indictment has been issued in the Northern District of Ohio, charging 19 individuals connected to a major Cleveland-based drug trafficking organization. A federal grand jury returned a 29-count indictment accusing the group of operating an expansive drug network that stretched across Northeast Ohio and even extended as far as Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
The defendants named in the indictment include: Derek Brantley, 41, of Cleveland Heights; Juan Johnny Colon, 42, of Cleveland; Luis Joel Rondon, 44, of Cleveland; Sydney Anthony, 25, of Parma Heights; Ryan Bell, 39, of Brunswick; Mark Byrd, 44, of Cleveland; Nicholas Calvert, 37, of Avon Lake; Jocelyn Dolan, 22, of Newton Falls; Antonio Greenlee, 37, of Cleveland; Andre Jenkins, 43, of Cleveland; Melanie Crespo, 32, of Elyria; Jordan Marsh, 27, of Cleveland; Nicholas Malusky, 38, of Parma; Sean Masters, 54, of Fort Pierce, Florida; Brandon Payne, 32, of Cleveland; Lee Pomales, 38, of Cleveland; Mason Pulvino, 28, of North Ridgeville; Martha Rios, 68, of Cleveland; and Kalem Watts, 45, of Cleveland.
Multistate Drug Operation Allegedly Involved Cocaine, Meth, and Fentanyl
According to court records, the alleged drug trafficking took place between October 2023 and December 2024. During that time, the group is believed to have distributed various controlled substances, with cocaine being the most commonly trafficked drug. Investigators stated the group used stash houses in Cleveland to store and package both cocaine and methamphetamine, in addition to storing illegally possessed firearms.
Authorities also discovered the ring had attempted to infiltrate the Ohio prison system, though specific details on those efforts have not been publicly released.
Throughout the course of the investigation, law enforcement agencies seized thousands of dollars in cash, along with multiple illegal drugs, including methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. In addition to narcotics, several firearms were confiscated during search operations linked to the case.
“An indictment is merely an allegation. Defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” This reminder from officials underscores the early stage of legal proceedings.
OCDETF Strike Force Takes the Lead
This extensive case was brought forward as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, a specialized program that enables multiple federal and local law enforcement agencies to work together in a shared location. The collaborative nature of the Strike Force Initiative allows agencies to share intelligence and execute multi-jurisdictional operations more effectively.
“The specific mission of the OCDETF Cleveland Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle major criminal organizations and subsidiary organizations, including criminal gangs, transnational drug cartels, racketeering organizations, and other groups engaged in illicit activities that present a threat to public safety and national security and are related to the illegal smuggling and trafficking of narcotics or other controlled substances, weapons, humans, or the illegal concealment or transfer of proceeds derived from such illicit activities in the Northern District of Ohio.”
The OCDETF Cleveland Strike Force is made up of personnel from a wide range of agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations, United States Marshals Service (USMS), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Border Patrol, and officers from numerous local law enforcement agencies, such as the Cleveland Division of Police.
This specific investigation was led by the FBI Cleveland Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert F. Corts for the Northern District of Ohio.
Potential Penalties Yet to Be Determined
If found guilty, each defendant’s sentence will be determined based on individual factors including their criminal history, role in the offense, and specific details of the violation. Officials noted, “In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.”
The case highlights the ongoing efforts by federal and local agencies to combat drug trafficking organizations operating in the region, especially those involving multi-state networks and dangerous substances such as fentanyl and methamphetamine.
