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A Multi-state drug
investigation has resulted in twenty-two individuals being charged with
drug trafficking. In October of 2006, an investigation known as "Operation Frequent Flyer" was
initiated which targeted Arkeefe Sherrills' drug trafficking organization
which used commercial airlines flights from Los Angeles to Cleveland
to bring cocaine, PCP, and marijuana to the Cleveland, Ohio area. Arkeefe
Sherrills and Richard White, leaders of this organization, would supply
couriers with these narcotics who would then travel by aircraft to Cleveland
and other mid-western cities where the narcotics would then be distributed.
Southwest Airlines Corporate Security provided important information
to investigators in Ohio and California in support of this investigation.
This investigation was conducted by the Cleveland High Intensity Drug Trafficking
Area(HIDTA) Task Force consisting of the following agencies: Cleveland Division
of Police; Orange Police Department; Brookpark Police Department; Independence
Police Department; Broadview Heights Police Department; Rocky River Police Department;
Woodmere Police Department; and the Cleveland Office of the FBI; with support
from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Internal Revenue Service; Ohio State
Highway Patrol; Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office; Euclid Police Department; Lake
County Narcotics Agency; Cuyahoga County Metropolitan Housing Authority Police;
Cuyahoga Heights Police Department; Southwest Airlines Corporate Security; and
the Los Angeles and Knoxville Offices of the FBI.
The following individuals were charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Narcotics
and Distribution of Narcotics through a criminal complaint filed in United States
District Court, Cleveland, Ohio: Anthony Harris, age 35, of Garfield Heights,
Ohio; Jarese Pannell, age 21, of Cleveland, Ohio; Alriana Ligon, age 43, of Cleveland,
Ohio; Marlene Brown, age 24, of Cleveland, Ohio; Janice Johnson, age 45, of Cleveland,
Ohio; Aleshia Bryant, age 18, of Cleveland, Ohio; Derrick Wade, age 25, of Cleveland,
Ohio; Tonya Nettles, age 37, of Cleveland, Ohio; Cynthia Johnson, age 47, of
Cleveland, Ohio; James Austin, age 38, of Cleveland, Ohio; Arkeefee Sherrills,
age 40, of Palmdale, California; Shaneka Pittman, age 30 of Palmdale, California;
Richard White, age 31, of San Bernardino, California; Robert Gooch, III, age
45, of Selmer, Tennessee; Sabastian Timothy Randolph, age 44, of Phoenix, Arizona;
Howard Gavin, age 35, of Cleveland, Ohio; Germaine Cardwell, age 23, of San Bernardino,
California; Canie Gibson, age 27, of San Bernardino, California; John Hawkins,
age 28, of San Bernardino, California; Sheronda Ligon, age 44, of Cleveland,
Ohio; Donald Littleton, age 34, of Los Angeles, California; and Janaye Thornton,
age 21, of Cleveland, Ohio.
These individuals will appear in United States District Court, Cleveland, Ohio
for their initial appearances on these charges.
Any questions regarding this news release may be directed to Special
Agent Scott T. Wilson at the Cleveland Office of the FBI, 216-522-1400.
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