William J. Edwards, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio; William D. Mason, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor; C. Frank Figliuzzi, Special Agent in Charge of the Cleveland Division of the FBI; Anthony C. Marotta, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of DEA Ohio; Michael McGrath, Chief, Cleveland Division of Police; and Andres Gonzalez, Chief, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland, Ohio, returned a 23-count indictment charging:

1. Antoinne Morgan, aka Loc, 28, of Cleveland;
2. Penton Word, aka Pent, 23, of Cleveland;
3. Alquin Wells, aka Word, 26, of Cleveland;
4. Richard Witherspoon, aka Peeper, 25, of Cleveland;
5. William Witherspoon, aka Tub, 24, of Cleveland;
6. Richard Witherspoon, Jr., aka Man-Man, 20, of Cleveland;
7. Raphael Boone, aka Tay, 24, of Cleveland;
8. Artemous Roulette, aka Scarf, 32, of Cleveland;
9. Hysheen Thomas, aka Sheen, 28, of Cleveland;
10. Albert Lewis, aka A, 24, of Cleveland;
11. William Johnson, aka Nick, 27, of Cleveland;
12. Brian Nettles, aka B, 20, of Cleveland;
13. Lorenzo Nettles, aka Renzo, 23, of Cleveland;
14. Timothy Settles, 20, of Cleveland;
15. David Robinson, 35, of Cleveland; and
16. Nathaniel Robinson, aka Nate, 36, of Cleveland, with violations of the federal narcotics laws.

Count 1 of the indictment charges all 16 defendants with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and/or distribution of more than five kilograms of cocaine (with a street value in excess of $200,000) and more than 50 grams of cocaine base ("crack"). The near three-year conspiracy, which ran from July of 2005 to March of 2008, operated in and around the King Kennedy Estates housing projects in Cleveland, Ohio.

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 records, if any, the defendants’ roles in the offenses and the unique characteristics of the violations. 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 newlycreated Northcoast Gang Task Force which is comprised of agents and officers from the FBI, DEA, Cleveland Division of Police and CMHA Police. The investigation initially targeted the violent street gang known as the King Kennedy Outlaws (KKOs) operating in and around the King Kennedy Estates in Cleveland, Ohio. The investigation ultimately revealed a large-scale drug conspiracy wherein Paul Bradley, aka Diddy (previously convicted on related federal drug charges); Fadil Barrett (previously convicted on related federal drug charges); Ernesto Hudson, aka Nesto (previously convicted on related federal drug charges); Antoinne Morgan, aka Loc; and Penton Word, aka Pent, were supplying most of the KKO area drug dealers, including gang members and non-gang members, with large amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine for resale. During the undercover portion of the investigation, nearly $21,000 worth of crack cocaine and cocaine were purchased in an undercover capacity from the various members of the conspiracy in the targeted area. Additionally, 14 kilograms of cocaine, with a street value in excess of $500,000, were seized during the investigation. Further, five illegal firearms and over $5,000 in cash were seized during the investigation.

In addition to the 16 individuals charged in the main indictment, three other defendants (Arian Knox, 33, of Cleveland; Timothy Larkin, 31, of Cleveland; and Jermaine Mitchell, aka J-Rock, 29, of Cleveland) from the targeted area are also facing federal narcotics charges stemming from the investigation. These separate indictments charge the distribution of varying amounts of either crack cocaine or phencyclidine (PCP).

Additionally, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office is prosecuting two other individuals for aggravated robbery in connection with this investigation. The investigation at both the federal and state level is continuing and additional indictments are anticipated.

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.