Marijuana Drug Ring: Four People Indicted In Geauga, Ashtabula

GENEVA, OH — Nearly 1,600 cannabis plants and numerous firearms were seized when law enforcement broke up a large drug ring at the end of 2017. Four people have now been indicted in federal court for their alleged role in the growing and distribution of the marijuana, the Department of Justice said.

"We have seen time and again that guns are unfortunately present in every large drug operation,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said in a statement. “This was a large marijuana trafficking organization that, not surprisingly, included an AK-47 and other firearms as part of its illegal enterprise. This is but one example of what we see in law enforcement operations all the time – where there are large amounts of drugs and cash, violence and firearms are almost always present as well.”

The four people being charged in the indictment are James Nagy, 37, of Willoughby; Kenneth Sovaca, 27, of Geneva; Bridget Gregori, 27, of Richmond Heights, and Robert Weikart, 37, of Wickliffe.

The DOJ said the four defendants were allegedly using a drug house on Ledge Road in Thompson Township. Nagy and Weikart allegedly used a second drug house in Ashtabula County, on Clay Street.

After an investigation that include the DEA, investigators seized about 1,580 cannabis plants from two different locations on Nov. 7, 2017. They then seized $107,822 in cash and about 20 guns, according to court documents.

“Drug trafficking and violence are synonymous. The arrest and prosecution of these gun-toting marijuana dealers contributes to the safety of the Geauga and Ashtabula community,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy Plancon.

All of four people have been charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. Weikart is also charged with having a gun as part of a drug trafficking operation.

Besides the DEA, the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, Willoughby Police Department, Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office, Ashtabula Police Department, Westlake Police Department, Lake County Narcotics Agency and Ohio BCI all contributed to the investigation.

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