A Cincinnati father and son duo who flaunted an opulent lifestyle reaped from their drug trafficking operations have been handed substantial prison sentences. The U.S. Department of Justice reported that Stephen Wheeler, age 49, received a 180-month sentence on June 20, while his son Romello Wheeler, age 30, was ordered to serve 150 months beginning from April 17. The pair was convicted of funneling significant quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana through the streets between July 2022 and February 2023.
With a penchant for luxury, the Wheelers occupied a high-end downtown Cincinnati apartment, forking over more than $4,000 monthly in rent, according to court filings. They rented a separate house for the unexpected amount of approximately $1,000, utilizing it as a hub for their drug activities. Throughout the DEA’s eight-month investigation, the co-conspirators were seen driving various expensive vehicles and indulging in travel across the U.S. and abroad, even splurging on prime Super Bowl tickets with field passes.
The investigation culminated in law enforcement officials uncovering significant quantities of drugs and assets. The search of their properties yielded around 1,317.9 grams of fentanyl, 1,678.3 grams of highly pure crystal methamphetamine, 962.5 grams of cocaine, and a hoard of cash and jewelry worth over $585,000 combined. According to the district court's documents, they were also in possession of a loaded armor-piercing pistol.
The Wheelers pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charges, a move that resulted in their conviction for the possession with intent to distribute sizable amounts of narcotics. Found at the crime scene, the duo netted 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 500 grams or more of cocaine. A third defendant, Mikelle D. Hill, was sentenced to four months in prison for aiding the organization by having vehicles and a storage unit registered in her name.
The successful prosecution of the Wheeler family drug ring was the result of collaborative efforts among federal agencies, as announced by Acting United States Attorney Kelly A. Norris and Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Lawton of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). United States District Court Judge Jeffery P. Hopkins passed down the sentencing, with Assistant United States Attorneys David P. Dornette, Criminal Chief Christy L. Muncy, and Deputy Criminal Chief Frederic Shadley representing the prosecution against the family-led drug ring operation.
