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Gregory A. White, United States
Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio; C. Frank Figliuzzi, Special
Agent in Charge of the Cleveland Division of the FBI; and Michael McGrath,
Chief, Cleveland Division of Police, today announced that a federal grand
jury sitting in Cleveland, Ohio, returned a 13-count indictment charging:
1. Raynard Jefferson, aka Bay-Ray, 27, of 1241 East 81st Street, Cleveland;
2. Clarence King, aka Pooh-Pooh, 23, of 993 Maud Avenue, Cleveland;
3. Derrick Winnick, aka Jigga, 26, of 10311 Hampden Avenue, Cleveland;
4. Rayshawn Freeman, 21, of 1153 East 74th Street, Cleveland;
5. Darryl Woodall, aka D-Rock, 26, of 1082 East 72nd Street, Cleveland;
6. Brandon Gaffney, 23, of 7603 Myron Avenue, Cleveland;
7. Damien Harris, aka Dame, 26, of 16001 Damon Avenue, Cleveland;
8. Otis Morman, aka OJ, 30, of 1219 East 86th Street, Cleveland;
9. Antonio Jordan, aka Tone, 32, of 12805 Shaker Blvd., Cleveland; and
10. Stanley Grays, 36, of 1082 East 72nd Street, Cleveland, with violations
of the federal narcotics laws.
Count 1 of the indictment charges all 10 defendants with conspiracy to
possess with the intent to distribute and/or the distribution of more
than 50 grams of cocaine base ("crack"). The nearly two year-long conspiracy,
which ran from May of 2005 to April of 2007, operated brazenly from East
70th Street to East 79th Street between Superior and Saint Clair Avenues,
Cleveland, Ohio. The conspiracy count also names 28 other individuals
as unindicted co-conspirators. Of the unindicted co-conspirators, 26 of
those individuals, along with 17 other co-defendants, were arrested on
related conspiracy charges in January of 2007 and have since pleaded guilty
in federal court. Matthew Manning, aka Fife, 22, and Eddie L. Cook, 23,
both of Cleveland, were shot and killed during the pendency of the investigation.
Their murders are still under investigation by the Cleveland Division
of Police.
The remaining counts of the indictment charge all of the defendants individually
or in small groups with the sale of various amounts of crack cocaine during
the time-frame of the investigation.
If convicted, the defendants' sentences will be determined by the Court
after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants'
prior criminal record, if any, the defendants' role in the offense and
the unique characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentences
will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases they will be less
than the maximum.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Pinjuh
following a two year investigation by the Cleveland Division of the FBI,
the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Cleveland Division of Police.
The investigation initially targeted the violent street gang known as
the 7-Alls operating from East 70th Street to East 79th Street between
Superior and Saint Clair Avenues, Cleveland, Ohio. The investigation ultimately
revealed a large-scale drug conspiracy wherein indicted defendant Raynard
Jefferson, aka Bay-Ray, and unindicted co-conspirators Willie Ausler,
Jr., aka Puff; Demetrius Hines, aka Boo; Carl Drewery, Jeffrey C. Doss,
Jr.; Donnie Stewart, aka Boom; Joseph Sailes and Eric Belk, aka Little
E, were supplying most of the 7-All area drug dealers, including gang
members and non-gang members, with large amounts of crack cocaine and
cocaine for resale. During the undercover portion of the investigation,
approximately 1.5 kilograms of crack cocaine, two kilograms of cocaine,
32.80 grams of ecstacy and 30 grams of marijuana (with a combined street
value in excess of $100,000) were purchased or seized from the various
conspiracy members in the targeted area. Additionally, five illegal firearms
(including an assault rifle) and $176,884 in cash were recovered during
the investigation.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant
is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden
to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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