3 Houstonians Arrested In Ohio For Large Shipment Of Fentanyl

HOUSTON, TX — The attorney general of Ohio announced Wednesday afternoon three Houston residents have been arrested following the seizure of a large shipment of fentanyl in Lucas County.

The following suspects, all from Houston, were arrested Tuesday and face federal charges of Conspiracy with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance:

• Anthony Robinson, 32
• Darrius Lewis, 29
• Barbara Wilson, 30

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine made the announcement with Toledo Police Chief George Kral, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Steve Francis and U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Justin Herdman.

Authorities with the Toledo Bulk Cash Smuggling Task Force — which is part of the Ohio Attorney General's Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission — began investigating the Houston trio Monday after discovering information about their alleged involvement in drug activity.

As part of the investigation, task force members intercepted a package containing approximately one kilogram of fentanyl that was shipped from a Lucas County post office en route to Texas. Investigators also seized an additional half kilogram of fentanyl and approximately $8,500 in cash after serving a search warrant at a Lucas County hotel where they were staying.

"Individuals from out of state who think they can come into Ohio to traffic drugs undetected should know that we have task forces like this one across the state whose mission is to find you, seize your drugs, and stop you from profiting off of Ohioans who are suffering from addiction," DeWine said. "It took this task force less than a day and a half to identify these suspects and intercept the package of deadly fentanyl before it left the post office. I commend task force members for their swift work."

Herdman said the amount of fentanyl seized was "enough to kill everyone in Toledo several times over."

"Fentanyl is a dangerous synthetic opioid with deadly consequences for users and those in law enforcement," Francis said. "This significant seizure clearly demonstrates HSI’s resolve to combatting the ongoing epidemic affecting Ohio, which we redoubled last week by pledging increased resources in the state."

(Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)