8 People Accused Of Selling Cocaine, Heroin In Lorain, Elyria

LORAIN, OH — Eight people have been accused of selling cocaine in Lorain, Elyria and Cleveland, the Department of Justice announced.

“The arrests of these individuals puts drug dealers on notice that we will use whatever resources necessary to remove them, and the poisons they peddle, from our communities," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin.

Prosecutors filed multiple indictments against the group.

In the first indictment, prosecutors named Fernando Talavera, 42, from Parma Heights; and Harlan Page, 29, from Westlake. Both face charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribut cocaine. Talavera also faces charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The second indictment names Prince Brown, 35, currently in jail; Robert Starr, 27, from Lorain; Mohammad Hamid, 33, from Avon Lake; Amos Jackson, 37, from Elyria; Darian Lopez, 27, from Lorain; and Devon Grantham, 26, from Elyria. All named people face charges of conspiracy to distribute and use of a communication facility in connection to a drug trafficking crime.

Seven of the eight named suspects have been taken into custody. Hamid remains a fugitive, the Department of Justice said.

According to court documents, from January 2019 through September 2020, Talavera and Page worked together to move five kilograms of cocaine through the Elyria, Lorain and Cleveland areas. Brown and Hamid were separately working to supply another five kilograms and heroin to drug traffickers in their network, prosecutors added.

On Jan. 28, 2021, members of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, along with the DEA, apprehended seven of the suspects named in the indictments. They remain in federal custody.

Prosecutors said the investigation into this group is connected to a drug trafficking sting from July 2020.

“The cooperation between local and federal law enforcement has once again proven effective,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan. “Anyone alleged to be selling cocaine, heroin or any other illegal narcotics in Cleveland, Elyria or Lorain should expect a strong law enforcement response.”