Canton man faces federal charges for heroin, fentanyl – News – The Repository

The Repository

Canton man faces federal charges for heroin, fentanyl – News – The Repository

Jack D. Mitchell pleaded not guilty this week. He’s alleged to have possessed the drugs on Feb. 12, as well as a Ruger 9mm pistol.

A Canton man faces federal drug charges on allegations he used a firearm to traffic heroin, fentanyl and other drugs.

Jack D. Mitchell, 43, has been indicted in U.S. District Court on two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and single counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

A seven-count indictment in the case was unsealed in federal court. Mitchell was arraigned on the charges Wednesday. He pleaded not guilty.

A final pretrial conference has been scheduled for Aug. 6 in U.S. District Court in Cleveland.

Mitchell possessed the drugs on Feb. 12, as well as a Ruger 9mm pistol, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney’s office for the Northern District of Ohio.

On Feb. 12, investigators conducted surveillance of Mitchell in Canton. Mitchell had an outstanding warrant on a charge of cocaine possession, a fifth-degree felony.

During a traffic stop at 9th Street NW and Market Avenue N, Mitchell was arrested and found to be in possession of six bags of cocaine, according to the criminal complaint that investigators said established probable cause to support an arrest warrant charging Mitchell with the federal drug-related charges.

Officers then searched the vehicle Mitchell was driving. Found inside were six plastic bags containing crystal methamphetamine, according to federal prosecutors. Inside another plastic bag was a substance later examined by the Canton-Stark County Crime Lab containing a substance with detectable amounts of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl, according to court records.

Later on Feb. 12, the Canton Police Department Special Investigations Unit and Stark County Metro Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at a residence connected to Mitchell on 34th Street NE. Investigators found marijuana, cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, heroin and a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, court records said.

Also found in the home were firearms, including a 9mm semi-automatic pistol loaded with a 14-round magazine, court records said. The firearm was located near a locked safe containing a large amount of illegal narcotics, according to prosecutors.

The case is also being investigated by the FBI. The Stark County Metro Narcotics Unit includes the Stark County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson Township Police Department and Canton Police Department.

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ed.balint@cantonrep.com

On Twitter @ebalintREP



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