Lead Defendant Sentenced to 288 Months in Steubenville Heroin Trafficking Case

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Frederick A. McShan, 37, of Steubenville, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. Distirct Court to 288 months in prison for his role in running a Steubenville-area heroin-trafficking ring.

McShan and his brother, David McShan, 39, were each convicted following a weeklong jury trial in March.

Specifically, Frederick McShan was convicted of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin, 12 counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. David McShan was also convicted of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin.

David McShan was sentenced on August 31 to 74 months in prison and eight years of supervised release.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Jefferson County Prosecutor Jane M. Hanlin and members of the Jefferson County Drug Task Force and the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force announced the sentence handed down today by Chief U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.

According to court documents and testimony, the McShan brothers helped lead a drug organization that was responsible for street-level heroin sales in Steubenville, Ohio, including in the Market Street apartment public housing area, Weirton, W.Va., Wheeling, W.Va. and Bellaire, Ohio.

Combating sexual exploitation of children.

A yearlong investigation in this case by local, state and federal law enforcement culminated in the seizure of eight firearms, three vehicles and approximately $110,000 of narcotics proceeds.

Seven co-defendants in this case have pleaded guilty and been sentenced. They include:

Donae F. Grier, 38, of Irving, Texas, who was sentenced to 60 months in prison;

Christopher J. Bishop, 32, of Weirton, W.Va., who was sentenced to 120 months in prison;

Kerris D. Moncrease, 32, of Weirton, W.Va., who was sentenced to 42 months in prison;

Perrier D. Coleman, 21, of Steubenville, Ohio, who was sentenced to 15 months in prison;

Terrence L. Smith, 27, of Steubenville, Ohio, who was sentenced to 87 months in prison;

Michael K. Greathouse, 25, of Steubenville, Ohio, who was sentenced to 100 months in prison and

Erica L. Jury, 37, of Steubenville, Ohio, who was sentenced to time served.

                                                                       

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative efforts of law enforcement, as well as Deputy Criminal Chief Michael Hunter, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jane M. Hanlin who are prosecuting the case.