Local men charged in drug conspiracy, shooting of federal task force officer

DAYTON – A local man has been charged federally with assaulting a law enforcement officer engaged in a federal investigation with a deadly weapon. The charge is a result of a shooting that took place during the execution of a federal search warrant during the evening of Nov. 4. Two others have also been charged in a drug conspiracy.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Nathan S. Goddard Jr., 39, assaulted a federal officer using a deadly weapon. Goddard is also charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of cocaine and marijuana.

Two others are charged with also conspiring to distribute the drugs. They include Cahke Cortner, 39, and Lionel Combs III, 40.

Between mid-July and late-October 2019, the DEA’s Dayton resident office conducted an investigation into a Dayton-based fentanyl operation.

As a result of that investigation, Goddard was named as an alleged source of supply of narcotics and a federal search warrant was subsequently authorized for 1454 Ruskin Road.

At approximately 6:50pm on Nov. 4, DEA and Dayton Police executed the search warrant. Officers entered the home and a task force officer descended the stairway to the basement of the residence. The officer immediately came under gunfire from the basement and was struck by the gunfire.

In the residence, authorities discovered two pistols with extended magazines, loaded with armor piercing ammunition.

Nine kilograms of suspected fentanyl were located in a duffel bag. A bag containing 50 to 60 pounds of marijuana was discovered on the floor of the basement, and approximately $11,000 in cash was spread out on a coffee table and more than $40,000 was in a duffel bag in a storage area under the stairs.

Assaulting a federal officer is punishable by up to 20 years in prison; using a firearm in doing so includes a mandatory additional 10 year prison term. The narcotics conspiracy in this case is punishable by a mandatory minimum 20 years and up to life in prison. Congress sets the minimum and maximum penalty ranges. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

The government is seeking that the defendants be detained pending trial. Each of the three defendants is scheduled for a detention hearing at 1:30pm on Nov. 8 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sharon L. Ovington.

David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Dayton Police Chief Richard S. Biehl; Keith Martin, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Joseph M. Deters, Acting Special in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Jonathan McPherson, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and Montgomery County Prosecutor Mathias H. Heck, Jr. announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Dominick S. Gerace is representing the United States in this case.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.