CLEVELAND — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)), published as received.

CLEVELAND – Three Ohio men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic dangerous and illegal drugs—including fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine—throughout Greater Cleveland.

The defendants were each sentenced to imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after pleading guilty to their roles in the drug trafficking conspiracy. All three men were previously incarcerated for drug convictions and were therefore eligible to be designated as career offenders to receive enhanced penalties. The defendants’ sentencings are as follows:

Chantez Moore, 45, of Westlake, Ohio, was sentenced to 276 months (23 years) in prison and ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment. He previously pleaded guilty to:

  • Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
  • Distribution of Methamphetamine
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fluorofentanyl
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine

Kevin Lanier, 42, of Highland Heights, Ohio, was sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison and ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment. He previously pleaded guilty to:

  • Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
  • Distribution of Fentanyl
  • Distribution of Methamphetamine
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fluorofentanyl

James C. Lang, 36, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison and ordered to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment. He previously pleaded guilty to:

  • Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
  • Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
  • Felon in Possession of a Firearm

The case began in early 2023 when federal agents were investigating significant drug trafficking activity in the Cleveland area believed to be connected to Mexican drug cartels. According to court documents, from about February 2023 to May 2024, defendants Moore, Lanier, and Lang were observed conducting drug transactions and making frequent visits to several apartments. Some apartments in question were later discovered to be rented under false names. Moore was found to be leasing apartments under fake names at two locations, and Lang also used a fake name to lease an apartment. During executions of search warrants at residences suspected of being connected to the drug conspiracy, agents seized:

  • 67 kilograms of fentanyl with 57 kilograms in pill form disguised as Percocet 30s
  • One kilogram of cocaine
  • One kilogram of methamphetamine
  • Numerous firearms: a Taurus G3C 9mm pistol, a Glock 42 .380 pistol, an Anderson AM-15 rifle, and a KelTec Sub 2000 9mm rifle.

The investigation was led by the FBI Cleveland Division, the Cleveland Division of Police, and the Cartel, Gang, Narcotics, and Money Laundering Task Force, a Cleveland-area, multi-agency entity comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement.

Assistant United States Attorney Vasile C. Katsaros for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.