Eighteen Indicted in Drug Trafficking Organizations that Brought Cocaine, Heroin, and Marijuana to Akron

A father, son, and third man were charged with running a large-scale drug ring that brought cocaine, heroin, and marijuana from Las Vegas to Akron, law enforcement agents announced today.

Also, a related organization was charged with bringing thousands of pounds of marijuana from Arizona into Akron.

Overall, 18 people were charged for their roles in the drug rings, which is detailed in the eight-count indictment unsealed today.

“These defendants brought hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of drugs into Akron,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “They sold this poison on our streets with one motivation—to make money.”

Many of the defendants were arrested this morning. Those indicted are:

■Anthony Deaun Norman, Jr., 25, Akron, Ohio

■Anthony Deaun Norman, Sr., 42, Akron, Ohio

■Nicholas P. Helfrick, 30, Akron, Ohio

■Robert L. Donahue, III, 33, Clinton, Ohio

■James J. Hallberg, 41, Casa Grande, Arizona

■Edward E. Steinbacher, 45, Hinckley, Ohio

■Marshall C. West, 33, Akron, Ohio

■Michael S. Coble 31 Akron, Ohio

■Robert E. Evans, III, 34, Akron, Ohio

■Anthony T. Skipper, Jr., 30, Akron, Ohio

■Daniel R. Dunson, 44, Akron, Ohio

■Jeremy A. Simmons, 33, Akron, Ohio

■Russell A. Dimick, 41, Akron, Ohio

■Thomas D. Hilton, Jr., 31, Akron, OH

■Jeffrey M. Guthier, 34, Norton, Ohio

■Jerry Gutierrez Robles, 58, Casa Grande, Arizona

■Dwaine J. Traylor, 39, Akron, Ohio

■JC Lanair Walton, 34, Copley, Ohio

Count 1 charges Anthony Deaun Norman, Jr., Anthony Deaun Norman, Sr., and Nicholas P. Helfrick with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. The indictment alleges the conspiracy existed from May 2010 to February 11, 2011, and involved Norman Jr. obtaining drugs from supplier in Las Vegas.

Anthony Deaun Norman, Jr. is charged in Count 2 with possession with intent to distribute approximately nine kilograms of cocaine which were seized by law enforcement in Akron on August 29, 2010. Norman, Jr. is also charged in Count 3 with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

Count 4 charges Robert L. Donahue, III, James J. Hallberg, Edward E. Steinbacher, Nicholas P. Helfrick, Marshall C. West, Michael S. Coble, Robert E. Evans, III, Anthony T. Skipper, Jr., Daniel R. Dunson, Jeremy A. Simmons, Russell A. Dimick, Thomas D. Hilton, Jr., Jeffrey M. Guthier, Jerry Gutierrez Robles, Dwaine J. Traylor, and JC Lanair Walton with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana. The indictment alleges the conspiracy existed from 2006 to March 20, 2011, and involved Donahue obtaining marijuana from an Arizona supplier.

Count 5 charges Robert L. Donahue, III, James J. Hallberg, and Edward E. Steinbacher with knowingly and intentionally possessing with the intent to distribute approximately 873 pounds of marijuana on or about March 17, 2011, which was seized in Akron, Ohio.

Edward E. Steinbacher is charged in Count 6 with traveling in interstate or foreign commerce to promote unlawful activities, that is, marijuana trafficking.

Robert L. Donahue, III is charged in Counts 7 and 8 with money laundering and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, if any, the defendants’ roles in the offenses 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 was conducted under the U.S. Attorney’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) which is part of a national program that seeks to identify, investigate and prosecute significant drug trafficking enterprises.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation, Summit County Sheriff’s Department Drug Unit, the Akron Police Department Street Narcotics Uniformed Detail, and the Akron Police Department Narcotics Unit.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samuel A. Yannucci and Robert E. Bulford.

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.