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Ohio man ran international drug trafficking operation while in prison, feds say
Washington — Federal prosecutors charged 11 people with operating an international drug trafficking operation, alleging they imported kilograms of illicit substances including fentanyl from China, India and Italy for distribution in the U.S.
According to an indictment unsealed in Ohio, Brian Lumbus Jr. allegedly ran the operation while he was in prison on state charges and coordinated with his codefendants to distribute illegal drugs throughout Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
Investigators say Giancarlo Miserotti — an Italian national who was recently taken into custody in that country — worked with Lumbus and others to acquire some of the illicit substances from China, first sending them to Italy, and then shipping them to the U.S. to avoid attracting the attention of American customs officials.
“From the confines of the Ohio Penitentiary, Brian Lumbus led an international and interstate drug trafficking organization that brought fentanyl and other, more potent synthetic drugs from overseas factories to the streets of our region,” U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio said in a statement. “Several others, both in the United States and outside it, acted in concert with Lumbus to do what he physically could not: obtain, assemble, and repackage those drugs, then mail or deliver them to other conspirators for further distribution.”
In February 2021, according to court documents, Miserotti allegedly wrote to an individual in China and posed as an American opioid retailer to discuss pricing for Isotonitazene, a controlled substance. Months later, prosecutors allege Miserotti and Lumbus spoke on the telephone about shipments of new products and narcotics mixtures.
Lumbus’ co-defendants allegedly purchased and obtained packages with the illegal drugs to be mixed and distributed across the region, prosecutors said.
“We are going to be getting more s**t down there [Tennessee] this weekend,” investigators alleged Lumbus said to another defendant during a phone conversation in October 2022. “I’m going to be mixing up some more s**t that’s going to be way stronger than that.”
It was during that month that prosecutors alleged five of the 11 co-defendants came into the possession of a mixture containing 40 grams or more of fentanyl, according to court documents, and intended to distribute it.
A month later, discussing a separate shipment, Lumbus allegedly said over the phone to Miserotti, the Italian man, “We got to be careful, man, for a second, man…somebody died,” to which Miserotti allegedly responded, “Ohhh…it was too strong.” Prosecutors alleged the men were discussing a mixture that contained Metonitazene, a potent opioid.
Some of the co-defendants have been accused of sending tens of thousands of dollars in Bitcoin to buy and distribute the illegal goods, court documents revealed.
“As alleged in today’s indictment, the defendants orchestrated an international conspiracy to peddle fentanyl and other deadly drugs across the Ohio Valley, with complete disregard for the lives of their victims,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said in a statement announcing the charges.
Attorneys for the defendants in the federal case were not immediately available for comment. According to the Justice Department, some of those facing charges were arrested Tuesday and transported to federal court in Cleveland.
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$100 million in federal funds released for North Carolina to rebuild roads, bridges damaged by Helene
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation released $100 million in emergency funds on Saturday for North Carolina to rebuild its roads and bridges damaged by Helene.
“We are providing this initial round of funding so there’s no delay getting roads repaired and reopened, and re-establishing critical routes,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement. “The Biden-Harris administration will be with North Carolina every step of the way, and today’s emergency funding to help get transportation networks back up and running safely will be followed by additional federal resources.”
The storm caused rampant flooding that has devastated several towns and killed more than 225 people – with CBS News confirming at least 114 people killed in North Carolina. There was more than 8 inches of rain across the western North Carolina mountains, with some areas seeing more than a foot.
Hundreds of roads across Western North Carolina remain closed, leading to an increase in air traffic as teams scour the region for survivors by air. Air traffic over Western North Carolina has increased by 300% due to relief efforts since the storm cleared, the Federal Aviation Administration and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
Mudslides blocked Interstate 40 and other highways in North Carolina and about 400 roads were closed due to damage from Helene. Interstate 40 was damaged at several locations, the Department of Transportation said.
President Biden visited the Carolinas on Wednesday, surveying the flood damage by air from Greenville, South Carolina, to Asheville, North Carolina. Mr. Biden announced the federal government would cover “100%” of all debris removal and emergency protective measure costs in North Carolina for six months.
The Department of Transportation said these relief funds will allow the North Carolina Department of Transportation to act more quickly to fund eligible repairs to their damaged facilities.
Li Cohen and
contributed to this report.
CBS News
Tropical Storm Milton forms in Gulf; forecast to strengthen into hurricane headed toward Florida
Tropical Storm Milton has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane headed toward Florida with possible impacts to its western coast, the National Hurricane Center said on Saturday. Maximum sustained winds are expected to be at 40 mph with higher gusts and Milton is currently moving north-northeast, NHC said in an advisory.
Milton is forecast to undergo a period of rapid intensification before it makes landfall as a Category 2 hurricane across Florida’s west coast, CBS News Miami reported.
The forecast comes a little more than a week after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida and across the Southeast, killing more than 200 people and causing immense destruction. President Biden on Thursday took an aerial tour of Florida’s Big Bend where Helene struck as a Category 4 storm. Hundreds of people are still missing and Mr. Biden said the work to rebuild will cost “billions of dollars” as communities suffer still without power, running water and passable roads.
NOAA
Milton is forecast to move across the southwestern Gulf of Mexico through Sunday night then across the south-central Gulf on Monday and Tuesday before reaching Florida’s west coast by the middle of the week, NHC said. Heavy rain is possible in the region starting Sunday into Monday, CBS Miami reported, and more rain and heavy winds will most likely arrive on Wednesday. Hurricane and storm surge watches will most likely be required for portions of Florida starting Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said.
Along with the heavy rainfall, the hurricane center said to expect risks of flooding.
Residents in the area should ensure they have a hurricane plan in place, the National Hurricane Center said, follow the advice of local officials and check back for forecast updates.
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