“Once we learned he (Stolte) was getting pills through post office boxes, we were able to target and put together a suspect list,” Greenfield said. “We received numerous tips and anonymous information.”
The following face drug trafficking and money laundering charges in federal court: Matthew Stolte and his brothers, Don Stolte Jr., 27, and Danny Stolte, 21, of Massillon; April Ricosky, 23, Geoffrey Bills, 23, and Adam Brannan, 20, also of Massillon; John Shira, of Canton; and Gilverto Ayala and Ernest Perez, both of San Antonio, Texas.
“These people are looking at significant time (in prison),” Williams said.
Federal authorities now have jurisdiction over the case. Those charged in the case were arraigned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Akron, Greenfield said.
Arrest warrants were executed Thursday for Don Stolte Jr., Danny Stolte, Ricosky, Bills and Brannan, Greenfield said. Matthew Stolte and Shira were already in custody at the Stark County Jail.
Matthew Stolte was arrested in November after he was caught in possession of a large amount of Ecstasy, Greenfield said.
All of those charged were involved in the distribution of the drugs in one form or another, according to Greenfield.
During the investigation, authorities learned that illegal drugs were coming into the area from Argentina, China and Canada.
The drug money was being wired back to Argentina, China and Serbia. In addition, it was discovered large amounts of cocaine were being brought to Stark County from Texas, according to Williams.
“They were definitely bringing in supplies to this area,” Williams said.
Officers seized large amounts of cocaine as well as thousands of Xanax, Ecstasy and Valium pills. The seized drugs had a street value of about $500,000.
“They had kind of a pharmacy. They had everything,” Williams said.
Most of the illegal drugs were distributed throughout Stark County, but some made their way to other locations in Northeast Ohio.
“They had post office boxes all over Stark County and a couple in Summit County,” Greenfield said. “There was a total of about 15 of them.”
As many as 50 officers were involved with the investigation, according to Greenfield. The effort included personnel from the Canton and Jackson Township police departments, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Stark County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“I would stress that the level of cooperation was beyond what was needed for there to be a successful completion of the case,” Greenfield said.
Matthew Stolte,Don Stolte Jr,Danny Stolte, April Ricosky,Geoffrey Bills,Adam Brannan,John Shira,Gilverto Ayala ,Ernest Perez
As someone that has seen firsthand the effects that this man has had upon the youth of the Massillon community by distributing these drugs, most notably Xanax, I am extremely happy that he will have to face the Federal Justice System. Only through his, and everyone else's, imprisonment will justice finally be served to the families that are suffering the effects of a family member that has developed an addiction by these individuals' hands. Thank you.
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