Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan announced that a federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Defendant Baha Jaffal, 29, of Parma, Ohio, on Friday, Dec. 17, following a five-day trial before Judge Benita Y. Pearson in Cleveland. Jaffal was convicted of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on Nov. 11, 2019, Parma Police Officers responded to a residence on Terrace View Lane for reports of an unconscious male. Upon arrival, officers discovered Defendant Baha Jaffal overdosing and immediately administered Narcan. Officers then searched Jaffal and his belongings to determine what had caused the overdose. During this search, officers found approximately 35 grams of carfentanil and heroin in a jacket pocket.

Separately, on Dec. 12, 2019, Parma Police responded to West 54th and Snow Road for reports of a silver Chevy Suburban driving recklessly. While attempting to stop the vehicle, officers observed the driver throw a pill bottle out the window. Officers then stopped the vehicle and identified Defendant Jaffal as the sole occupant. During a search of the vehicle and Jaffal, officers discovered 27 pills containing fentanyl in Jaffal’s pocket and a loaded firearm magazine in the center console of the vehicle. Officer also recovered a firearm Jaffal threw from the vehicle and the discarded pill bottle.

Jaffal is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous felony convictions of burglary, domestic violence, attempted felonious assault and drug possession in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

Jaffal is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14, 2022. A federal district court judge will determine a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Parma Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Scott C. Zarzycki and Marc D. Bullard.