The bench trial for accused drug trafficker Dominic Bangera is currently underway in Geauga County Common Pleas Court Judge David Fuhry’s courtroom.
Bangera, 43, who’s from the United Kingdom, was arrested in June of 2014 along with Omar Lopez, 21, an illegal alien from Mexico, Jacquelyn Sanchez, 36, an immigrant from Puerto Rico who is married to Bangera, and Raymond Utt, an Ohio resident, for alleged drug trafficking at a home they were renting at 15590 Park View Drive, Newbury Township.
In one of the largest drug raids in the history of Geauga County, the county sheriff’s office seized one kilo of pure, uncut black tar heroin, six pounds of crystal meth, 100 pounds of marijuana, steroids, 10 fully-loaded guns and $128,000 in cash from the home.
This morning, Bangera, who waived his right to a jury trial, is being represented by defense lawyers Mark Marein and Michael Judy.
The first witness to take the stand was Geauga County Sheriff’s Deputy Andy Humar, who testified about the box truck that had been parked on Park View Drive in Newbury Township that lead to further investigation of the home.
Humar was present when the search warrant was executed and had identified the suspicious mail order receipts found in the house and cars.
Postal Inspector Mark Kudley also took the stand and testified about money structuring and the practice of purchasing multiple money orders from different locations below $3,000, which is done to avoid detection, but raises suspicion if discovered.
Det. Adam Lefelhoc took the stand as well. He was involved in executing the search warrant on the Park View Drive home, as well as entry and processing of the evidence. The detective said Sanchez was present in the home and three others resided there, but were not present at the time of the raid.
Bangera and Lopez returned several hours after the early afternoon execution of the warrant. Utt came back later that evening.
Lefelhoc said he initially found one pound of suspected methamphetamine in a tupperware container in the master bedroom between the couch and wall, as well as digital scales and several guns.
Check back for more details as they become available.