Feds charge 10 with selling cocaine, oxycodone in Elyria (UPDATED)

This story has been updated to correct the age of one of the defendants. Ten people have been charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Cleveland with possessing and distributing crack cocaine, cocaine and the addictive painkiller oxycodone throughout Elyria over the last 2½ years. U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced Tuesday that the following people were indicted by a federal grand jury: Terrence Bowens, 44; Cedric Green, 34; Marcus Harder, 36; James Milton Jr., 35; Lavar Thornton, 42; James Terry Robinson, 59, an attorney; Randy Glover, 44; Harold Kimbro, 46; Kavis Roberts, 43; and Melanie Grantham, 57. Federal authorities said that from January 2018 through this month, the defendants worked together to distribute at least 280 grams of crack cocaine, 500 grams of cocaine and oxycodone throughout Elyria. Bowens and Green allegedly would purchase large quantities of cocaine and redistribute it to the other drug traffickers in the area. Court documents stated that Bowens and Green used cellphones to communicate and conduct their operations and used a residence on Foster Avenue in Elyria to store, cook and distribute crack cocaine and oxycodone. Bowens and Green also allegedly conducted countersurveillance of law enforcement in the area and shared information with each other on law enforcement presence. That included driving past the home of an Elyria narcotics detective and noting license plates in their driveway, then talking about what cars were following them around, according to federal court records. The investigation was conducted and aided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, Elyria Police Department, Lorain County Sheriff's Office and Lorain County Prosecutor's Office. Bowens has a previous first-degree felony conviction for drug trafficking in Lorain County Common Pleas Court from 2013. Court records show he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in prison. Lorain County is one of 10 communities around the nation that are part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, or Operation SOS. This ensures that cases involving heroin, fentanyl and any synthetic opioids are prosecuted in federal court. "Drug dealers and other criminals have long targeted Lorain County as an area to exploit and sell their deadly product," Herdman said. "Since 2018, as part of Operation SOS, we have committed to assisting our state and local partners by federally prosecuting any fentanyl or opioid trafficking offense from Lorain County. Today's arrests send a strong message: If you deal dope in Lorain County, you will face a federal prosecution." "These arrests and charges are a reminder drug traffickers have little regard for human life," DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin said. "DEA remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to rid our communities of illicit drugs and to prosecute those who look to profit from criminal activity."