Grand jury charges two men in fentanyl conspiracy involving $500k cash seizure

 CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged two men in a narcotics conspiracy that involved the seizure of more than half a million dollars and one kilogram of fentanyl.

Derrick Ferris, 44, of Cincinnati, and Jose Antonio Garcia, 22, of Lynwood, Calif., have been charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and smuggling bulk cash. The narcotics conspiracy is punishable by 10 years up to life in prison.

As part of an ongoing investigation, authorities with the Miami Valley Bulk Smuggling Task Force and Southern Ohio Bulk Smuggling-Major Drug Interdiction Task Force seized 1 kilogram of fentanyl and more than $500,000 in U.S. currency. The task forces are part of the Ohio Attorney General’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission.

According to the indictment, between May 7 and Aug. 5, 2020, Ferris (who is also known as Kelvin Croom) and Garcia smuggled bulk cash out of the United States with the intent to evade a currency reporting legal requirement.

If convicted, the United States seeks to forfeit the more than half a million dollars in cash, along with two gold Rolex watches, two gold chains, three handguns and ammunition.

Bulk cash smuggling is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison.

David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Vance Callender, FBI Special Agent in Charge Chris Hoffman, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck and Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil announced the charges. OCDETF Deputy Criminal Chief Christy L. Muncy is representing the United States in this case.

The Miami Valley Bulk Smuggling Task Force is made up of officers from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Miami Township Police Department, Butler Township Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations and Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office.

The Southwestern Ohio Bulk Smuggling-Major Drug Interdiction Task Force is made up of members of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office’s Regional Narcotics Unit along with partners from the Cincinnati Police Department, Green Township Police Department and Cheviot Police Department.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.