FBI busts Mansfield drug ring operating from car wash

The FBI has taken down an alleged organized drug trafficking ring of 16 Mansfielders centered on the New Millennium Car Wash, its owner and his residence on Johns Avenue.

According to the federal indictment, co-conspirators obtained cocaine, crack and oxycodone from suppliers in Detroit, Cleveland and Toledo. The conspirators concentrated their drug distribution in and around Mansfield.

The seven-year investigation began in 2019. The 85-page indictment filed July 8 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, said the grand jury charged 16 people:

The indictment accused the 16 of working with others to distribute cocaine, crack and oxycodone, all Schedule II controlled substances.

“Caldwell obtained cocaine and oxycodone from various sources, which he then cooked into crack and distributed to his conspirators, hereinafter, referred to as the Caldwell DTO,” the federal indictment said.

The federal record said Caldwell, 68, would purchase cocaine from multiple individuals including Owens, Wade, Henderson and Howard.

Caldwell would also purchase oxycodone from various sources and travel or instruct subordinate dealers to travel to retrieve the oxycodone from various locations, according to the indictment, as well as buying oxycodone from Henderson, Moses and Douglas Jr.

Caldwell and others allegedly worked together to travel or pick up drugs, meet with customers to pick up money and sell cocaine, crack, oxycodone or other controlled prescription drugs to other drug traffickers in Mansfield and elsewhere, including Brooks, James, Thornton, Robertson, Moyer, Henderson, George and Crawford, which were then sold to customers.

The indictment also accused Caldwell of keeping cocaine, crack, oxycodone and drug proceeds at the New Millennium Car Wash at the corner of West Fourth and Bowman streets, which Caldwell owned and operated.

He also kept drugs and money at a house he owned on Johns Avenue, the court record said.

The co-conspirators were aware of law enforcement efforts and shared information with one another about law enforcement presence. On numerous occasions, when a subordinate dealer was stopped by local police for traffic violations, Caldwell would call to complain about harassment of his employees, whom he claimed worked for the New Millennium Car Wash, according to the indictment.

The court record said the co-conspirators used cell phones to conduct their drug trafficking activity. To reduce the risk of being detected, Caldwell and co-conspirators would use coded language, slang terms or street terminology to obscure their activities, according to records.

Caldwell and some co-conspirators would also refuse to discuss drug-related activities on the phone, preferring to speak in-person at the New Millennium Car Wash.

The FBI investigation detailed numerous drug sales using a confidential source. Details from texts and phone calls are cited in the federal paperwork, with numerous dates and times and locations.

In Count 4, (possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl), the grand jury charges: On or about Dec. 15, 2023 … defendant Damell Owens did knowingly and intentionally possess with the intent to distribute approximately 334.49 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.”

In Count 5, the grand jury charges Owens again with possession with the intent to distribute “1,524.4 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamines.”

In Count 6: “Owens did knowingly and intentionally possess with the intent to distribute approximately 555.91 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine.”

Owens, a convicted felon, is also accused of possessing a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Caldwell, also a convicted felon, was charged with possession with the intent to distribute oxycodone, cocaine and oxycodone on various dates. He was also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and as a felon in possession of ammunition.

In Count 18, Caldwell is charged with maintaining a place on Johns Avenue to manufacture and distribute cocaine and oxycodone.

The indictment said all 16 defendants forfeit all property used or intended to be used for drug trafficking, which also includes the car wash at 200 W. Fourth St.

The FBI investigation also listed firearms, ammunition and currency to be forfeited in pursuant to a federal search warrant in 2024.

Defendants Caldwell, Henderson and Owens face enhanced penalties under Title 21 for having a prior serious drug felony conviction.

Caldwell also involved in physical struggle with Mansfield cop

On May 20, Caldwell, whose name was redacted on a police report, was later confirmed by Mansfield police to be a passenger in a pickup truck when police conducted a traffic stop at West Fifth and North Main streets. The News Journal obtained the police report, which said that Caldwell kept yelling not to let the woman driver, identified as co-defendant Dreama Henderson, answer any questions when an officer tried to speak to her.

He continuously showed nervous indicators, which included breathing very heavily, not looking at the officer and being very confrontational from the start of the traffic stop, the report said.

“Due to the nervous behavior from both parties, the officer asked Henderson for consent to search the vehicle, which she gave, but then recanted as this officer approached the front passenger door. As this officer was attempting to verify, (Caldwell) pulled his wallet out, but held it away from this officer,” the report noted. “This officer asked (Caldwell) to either read the driver’s license number, or give this officer his ID. (Caldwell) pulled his ID out, but then again held it away from this officer. As this officer attempted to grab his ID, he pulled it away and then very aggressively placed the ID in front of this officer’s face. As this officer grabbed the ID, (Caldwell) balled his fist up and lunged toward this officer.”

“(Caldwell) was ordered out of the vehicle, but refused. A struggle ensued and, during this, (Caldwell) punched this officer in the face,” the report said. “The struggle ensued a little while longer and (Caldwell) was placed in handcuffs without any further incident.”

The Mansfield Fire Department arrived on scene and transported Caldwell to OhioHealth Mansfield for minor injuries. Henderson was given a traffic citation and released from the scene.

The incident was captured on bodycam and reported by Cleveland 19 News reporter Mike Mason. The video has circulated on social media recently.

Lou Whitmire can be reached at 419-521-7223. Contact her on X at @LWhitmir.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: FBI busts Mansfield drug ring operating from car wash

Reporting by Lou Whitmire, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal

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By Lou Whitmire, Mansfield News Journal | USA TODAY Network