Search warrant: Gun, drugs found in Lorain house of man charged by feds

ELYRIA — Searches conducted at a Lorain man's home while he was under investigation by federal agents came up with suspected drugs and a gun, according to a search warrant filed in Lorain County Common Pleas Court. Angel "Snowy" Gonzalez, 37, is one of 14 Lorain County residents charged with a number of drug and weapons crimes in a federal indictment handed up this week in U.S. District Court in Cleveland. Gonzalez, who remains in federal custody, has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges against him and was assigned an attorney. He and other defendants are detention hearing is Sept. 28 A warrant signed by Judge Christopher Rothgery on Thursday at the request of the Lorain Police Department detailed the following: Detectives involved in a joint federal/local investigation of illegal drug trafficking in Lorain sought permission to search Gonzalez' residence at 2438 E. 35th St. They were looking for illegal drugs, cash, firearms, ammunition, firearms safes or boxes, drug paraphernalia and documents related to drug trafficking, according to the affidavit. In the affidavit, Lorain police detectives said they were familiar with Gonzalez due to prior investigations. He had pleaded guilty to a felony cocaine trafficking charge in Lorain County in July 2008 and a felony drug possession charge in October 2010, according to the search warrant. On May 18, officers had recovered a firearm with an obliterated serial number in a bedroom "in close proximity to a bag" with Gonzalez' ID inside. As a convicted felon, Gonzalez is forbidden by state and federal law from owning or possessing guns and ammunition and he was charged with having weapons under disability, a felony, according to Lorain County Jail records. On Thursday, U.S. Marshals and other police officers went to Gonzalez' house to arrest him on the federal charges. A neighbor said Gonzalez had been there within the last three to four days, but it was empty when officers entered. An FBI agent found two loaded firearm magazines in plain view in a bedroom, next to a Sig Sauer gun box. The box contained a receipt from Rural King, which sells guns, and the name Edmond McCall Jr., another defendant charged as a result of the investigation. Seized as a result of Thursday's search were a Sig Sauer P320 handgun, a box of 9 mm ammunition and three loaded magazines found in a bedroom; a scale lid and several baggies with suspected drug residue on them along with a "loose powdery substance" in the kitchen; and two baggies with blue and white powder in them and a jar of marijuana in the basement. Gonzalez and the other 13 defendants are facing charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, and a detectable amount of crack, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio. Lorain and Elyria police, the Lorain County Drug Task Force, DEA, FBI and Homeland Security agents and the U.S. Marshals Service all participated in the investigation. The indictment alleges that Carlos "Los" Gonzalez led a drug gang based in Lorain that supplied members with kilogram quantities of cocaine and crack. In total, 17 guns were seized by police and federal agents, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced. Other charges filed by a federal grand jury include being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, unlawful users of controlled substances in possession of firearms and use of a communications facility to facilitate a drug conspiracy. Federal court records indicated that all 14 defendants were in custody, and those that have had their initial appearance before a federal magistrate have all been assigned attorneys and pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. Along with Carlos and Angel Gonzalez, they include:- Edmond McCall Jr., 32. A federal detention hearing is set Tuesday.- Christopher Wilkes, 37. A detention hearing is Tuesday.- Ceasare Hollis, 50. A detention hearing is Monday.- Julius Harrington, 22. Free on bond.- Jorge Diaz, 27. Remains in federal custody. - Christopher Popik, 32. In custody until he can be placed in an in-patient drug treatment program, according to federal court records. - Shakara Whitfield, 33. In custody while a federal magistrate rules on detention status. - Adam Young, 32. A detention hearing is Monday.- Jacque Hill, 35. Free on bond. Federal court records did not contain any additional information on defendants Darnell Delaney, 38; Niles Thompson, 35; or Lloyd Young, 35.. Delaney was shot and wounded by Elyria police Sgt. Benjamin Harris on Howe Street on Aug. 2 after Harris and Officer Joseph Figula responded to a disturbance call there, The Chronicle-Telegram reported at the time. The Lorain County Sheriff's Office was investigating the shooting.