Elyria Drug Trafficker Sentenced For Selling Heroin, Fentanyl

ELYRIA, OH — An Elyria man was sentenced to 14 years in prison for selling heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, the Department of Justice announced. The case is one of several actions taken by Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS).

Pierre Alston, 39, was sentenced Tuesday to 169 months in prison. He previously pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of crack cocaine, one count of distribution of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl, and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.

Primarily between July and October 2018, Alston sold narcotics to customers in Northeast Ohio. His largest transaction was the sale of 3.8 grams of a heroin mixture in August 2018, according to court documents obtained by Patch.

Alston was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi on Tuesday.

Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS) is prosecuting dozens of cases around the nation. The operation targets any cases involving heroin, fentanyl or a synthetic opioid and prosecutes those cases in federal court.

Lorain County is one of 10 communities nationwide that is part of the pilot program for Operation SOS. The investigation into Alston was led by the FBI and Elyria police department, with help from the Lorain County Prosecutor's Office.

“These drugs have killed thousands of our friends and neighbors and caused pain and heartbreak to their families.” United States Attorney Justin Herdman said when the program launched in 2018. “ This initiative will allow us to work in a collaborative, targeted way on the enforcement side to reduce the drug supply, while continuing to partner with others in our community to help drive down demand.”