CINCINNATI (WKRC) – A father and son were sentenced following their operation of a large-scale drug trafficking organization that they used to fund a luxury lifestyle, including purchasing front-row tickets to the Super Bowl.
According to a release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, 49-year-old Stephen Wheeler and his son, 30-year-old Romello Wheeler, operated a “multi-kilogram drug trafficking organization involving fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana” between July 2022 and February 2023.
The relatives reportedly lived in a luxury apartment in downtown Cincinnati that cost over $4,000 per month, but they also rented an additional home for $1,000 per month to use for the drug operation.
“Throughout the eight-month investigation, the defendants drove nine different high-end vehicles, traveled extensively throughout the United States and internationally, and purchased front-row tickets with field passes for the Halftime Show for the Super Bowl in Los Angeles,” the release said.
Authorities said they found “1,317.9 grams of fentanyl, 1,678.3 grams of 95% pure crystal methamphetamine, 962.5 grams of cocaine, $190,000 in bulk cash, and more than $395,000 worth of assorted jewelry, along with a loaded armor-piercing pistol.”
Both men pled guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 500 grams or more of cocaine. Stephen was sentenced to 180 months in prison and Romello was sentenced to 150.
A third defendant, Mikelle Hill, was sentenced to four months in prison for her role in aiding the organization.