Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

A seven-count indictment was filed charging Dustin Shepherd, aka “Rev,” age 31, of Ravenna, Ohio, and Christopher Ferry, aka “Skinny,” age 21, of Newton Falls, Ohio, with conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana, and firearms violations, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Count 1 of the indictment charges that from in or about October 2013 through March 2014, Shepherd and Ferry conspired to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and less than 50 kilograms of marijuana in the Ravenna, Ohio, area and elsewhere.  It was part of the conspiracy that Shepherd supplied marijuana and methamphetamine to Ferry for distribution in and around Ravenna, Ohio, according to the indictment.

Count 3 of the indictment charges that on or about March 14, 2014, Ferry possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Counts 4 and 5 of the indictment charge that on or about March 28, 2014, Shepherd possessed with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and marijuana.

Counts 2 and 6 of the indictment charge that on or about February 27 and March 28, 2014, Shepherd  possessed more than 50 various firearms and more than 24,000 rounds of ammunition, despite having been previously convicted of commercial burglary and possession for sale of a controlled substance, in the Tehama County Superior Court of California.

Count 7 of the indictment charges that on or about March 28, 2014 Shepherd possessed a firearm while committing a drug trafficking crime, that is, possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana.

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

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted with the combined efforts by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Ohio State Highway Patrol; Illinois State Police; Portage County Drug Task Force, and the Akron City Police Department.  The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David M. Toepfer.

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

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