Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Canton, Ohio – Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan announced that a federal grand jury sitting in the Northern District of Ohio returned an indictment today charging several Canton-area individuals who self-identify as members the “Shorb Blocc” gang with racketeering and drug conspiracy violations.   

According to the indictment, members and associates of Shorb Blocc, which is alleged to be a criminal organization, illegally distributed cocaine base, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl and marijuana, and committed acts of violence to further the interests of the criminal organization, which included murder, assault, robbery, and witness intimidation.

According to court documents, the following individuals have been indicted on charges of racketeering: Lamuel Flowers, 28 of Canton, Ohio; Lenmuel Brown, 26 of Alliance, Ohio; Corey Sullivan, 25 of Canton, Ohio; Dejour Kelly, 29 of Canton, Ohio; Jessie Lee, 23 of Canton, Ohio; Deangelo Snell, 21 of Massillion, Ohio; Tyvion Hall, 23 of Canton, Ohio; Raphael Patterson, 34 of Canton, Ohio; Juleus Edwards, 33 of Canton, Ohio; Austin Collins, 21 of Canton, Ohio; Justin Bush, 34 of Canton, Ohio; Jaylen Martin, 24 of Canton, Ohio; Stephen Harvey, 26 of Canton, Ohio; and Harry Harris, 41 of Canton, Ohio, Justice Hunter, 23 of Akron, Ohio and Jawon Strickland, 27 of Canton, Ohio, are separately identified as members of the drug conspiracy, which is also charged in this indictment.

Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan stated, “We are grateful for the extensive and cooperative efforts of our federal, state, local law enforcement partners to bring these individuals to justice and to continue protecting our communities.”

“The indictment of these individuals on a combination of racketeering and drug conspiracy charges represents the culmination of a lot of intense, detailed work,” stated Roland H. Herndon, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “We appreciate the time and energy that our local, state, and federal partners have invested in these investigations. I would like to assure the community that ATF is engaged in the City of Canton and will continue to work with our partners to identify and prosecute those who use violence in our community to terrorize and harm others in furtherance of their illegal enterprise.”

Jack O. Angelo III, Chief of Police, Canton Police Department, stated, “Today’s joint operations between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Canton Police Department is one of the largest assaults on organized violent street gangs in the history of Canton.”

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence imposed will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The Bureau Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Canton Police Department, are investigating the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Toni Beth Schnelllinger-Feisthamel, Robert Corts, and Vasile Katsaros are prosecuting the case.

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