Four men were charged in federal court with maintaining drug houses in Thompson Township and Ashtabula, according a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Named in the six-count indictment were James Nagy, 37, of Willoughby; Kenneth Sovaca, 27, of Geneva; Bridget Gregori, 27, of Richmond Heights; and Robert Weikart, 37, of Wickliffe.
The Maple Leaf was at the initial raid, and those details are here.
Nagy, Sovaca and Weikart are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. Weikart is charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
All four men are charged with maintaining a drug house on Ledge Road in Thompson, the release stated. Almost 1,600 plants were taken from Thompson and a second drug house on Clay Street in Ashtabula.
Investigators also found $107,822 in cash and 20 firearms, according to court documents.
“We have seen time and again that guns are unfortunately present in every large drug operation,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “This was a large marijuana trafficking organization that, not surprisingly, included an AK-47 and other firearms as part of its illegal enterprise. This is but one example of what we see in law enforcement operations all the time — where there are large amounts of drugs and cash, violence and firearms are almost always present as well.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy Plancon said: “Drug trafficking and violence are synonymous. The arrest and prosecution of these gun-toting marijuana dealers contributes to the safety of the Geauga and Ashtabula community.”
According to the news release: “If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, Willoughby Police Department, Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office, Ashtabula Police Department, Westlake Police Department, Lake County Narcotics Agency and Ohio BCI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa T. Darden and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Joyce of the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office.
