Granger Man Held as Leader of Drug Ring
AKRON — A Granger Township man was arrested Tuesday night by federal agents for his alleged role in leading a drug ring that received and distributed more than 1,800 kilograms of cocaine over a two-year period.
Kevin Terrell Tyler, 47, of 2291 Hickory Creek Drive, was accused, along with 32 others, of participating in separate cocaine and marijuana rings operating out of the Akron area.
Tyler was indicted on 36 counts, including conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana, conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and laundering monetary instruments, U.S. District Court records show.
He allegedly received the cocaine from two men, Horacio Zelaya-Villalobos and Felipe Villalobos-Bonilla, who imported it from Mexico and the southwestern United States between May 2004 and February 2006, a release from the U.S Attorney’s Office said. The men also allegedly provided cocaine and marijuana to another ring operating out of the Akron area.
To protect himself from authorities, Tyler allegedly used others to deliver the cocaine and money to his suppliers and frequently changed his phone numbers. The cocaine and cash were stored in numerous residences in the Akron area, the indictment stated.
Tyler, along with his family members and associates, also is accused of taking the drug proceeds and investing them in numerous bank accounts and businesses. He created a company, Tyler Property Management Ltd., to direct these proceeds.
In May 2006, Tyler also delivered about $100,000 to an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agent, who was posing as a “corrupt banker who would take cash proceeds from illegal activity and infuse the proceeds into the banking system.”
Tyler’s residence was searched Wednesday, where personal property was seized as part of the investigation, said county Prosecutor Dean Holman, whose office, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will deal with the forfeiture of Tyler’s possessions that were purchased from the profits of drug activity.
The residence’s current appraisal value is $622,000, which is less than the $650,000 he paid for it in 2004, auditor’s records show. To purchase this residence and other properties, Tyler allegedly falsified loan documents.
The arrests come after a two-year investigation that used wiretaps, undercover operations and electronic tracing devices, the release said.
Participating agencies included the Medina County Drug Task Force, Medina County Sheriff’s Office, Brunswick Hills Police Department and Summit County Drug Unit.
The arrests were announced at a news conference Wednesday afternoon in Akron.
During the investigation, more than $3 million in cash was found, including $2.8 million from one residence in Akron last year, along with 1,000 pounds of marijuana.
Wood may be reached at wp.medina-gazette.com or allisonwood@ohio.net. |
