Accused Heroin, Fentanyl Drug Ring Charged In Ohio

TOLEDO, OH — Eight people accused of taking part in a drug trafficking scheme were indicted in federal court this week. The group is charged with shipping fentanyl, heroin and cocaine into northern Ohio.

The drug ring was led by Leonardo Espino, court documents said. His organization is accused of handling multi-kilogram shipments of cocaine and heroin, and thousands of fentanyl pills, and bringing them into Northwest Ohio. The group is also believed to have distributed drugs in New York City, Chicago and North Carolina, court documents said.

"This is a significant blow to a major drug trafficking organization operating in the Toledo, Ohio area,” said Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin. “These actions make Toledo and the surrounding community safer by taking a significant amount of drugs off the street and bringing criminals with ties to violent drug trafficking organizations to justice.”

Espino is accused of coordinating the drug ring's efforts with a supplier in Mexico. Once the drugs were in hand, Thomas Espino would distribute the narcotics and get payments from dealers, court documents said. The profits would then be moved back to Mexico.

The drug ring met at an automotive store owned by Tony Nichols, court documents said. Nichols would then distribute cocaine and fentanyl pills to other people, according to the indictment. Christopher Faust would then distribute heroin in Toledo and wire payments to supplier in Mexico, according to court documents.

According to prosecutors, Peter Martinez would help move the narcotics throughout Toledo, Ramon Ochoa would transport drugs and cash for other members of the drug ring, and Glendon Patrick would move heroin and cash for the group.

“This group is responsible for bringing large amounts of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl into Northwest Ohio, then shipping the profits back to Mexico,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “This is occurring at the same time our neighbors continue to die from overdoses. We will continue to do all we can to choke off the supply of these deadly drugs.”

The eight people named in the indictment are Leonardo Espino, 48, of Holland; Peter Martinez, 29, Tony Nichols, 47, Ramon Ochoa, 43 all of Oregon, Ohio; Thomas Espino, 42, Christopher Faust, 36 all of Toledo; Glendon Patrick, 40 of Fremont, Ohio; and Jose Luis Betancourt-Ponce, 46, of Mexico. All eight people are charged with conspiracy to distribute with intent to distribute controlled substances.

The accused drug ring was investigated by the DEA.