Trucker admits bringing large amounts of fentanyl, other drugs from California to Columbus

A Los Angeles trucker and the ringleader of a national drug distribution operation that brought fentanyl and other narcotics from California to Columbus admitted to his crimes Friday in federal court here.

Federal agents arrested Isabel Odir Castellanos, 51, and 10 other defendants in June 2022.

Castellanos, who owned a transportation company, drove narcotics via semi-truck from Los Angeles to Columbus, according to court documents.

More drug crime news:Former Columbus narcotics officer sentenced for trafficking fentanyl

Largest single fentanyl seizure in the history of the Southern District

According to the office of Kenneth L. Parker, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, the case involves bulk amounts of heroin, cocaine, meth and marijuana — and the largest single fentanyl seizure in the history of the Southern District, which includes Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati.

In this case, law enforcement seized more than 100 pounds of narcotics, including 115,000 fentanyl-laced pills that make up part of the 76 kilograms of total fentanyl, nearly half a million dollars in cash, seven firearms and four vehicles.

Castellanos pleaded guilty Friday to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. He will be sentenced at a later date. His crime is punishable by at least 10 years in prison to up to life in prison.

Public safety news:Could 'Jump Out Boys' be returning to Columbus? Police proposing new specialized gang unit

Cases are pending against the other 10 defendants, who are from Columbus, Springfield, Youngstown and West Virginia. Nine of the defendants have pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking conspiracy crimes.

Castellanos delivered the narcotics to a co-defendant’s home in Columbus, which served as a stash house, according to Parker's office.

Co-conspirators delivered the drugs to mid-level dealers, who sold the drugs in central Ohio, Youngstown, Springfield and West Virginia, according to federal prosecutors. Castellanos would then collect the drug proceeds before returning to California, Parker's office said.

Many of the drug transactions involved tens of thousands of dollars and thousands of fentanyl pills, according to prosecutors.

The other defendants accused in the drug operation are:

• Darrell Enrico Maurice Peterman Sr., 60, Youngstown, Ohio
• Susana Maria Orellana, 39, Columbus, Ohio
• Martel D. Owens, 38, Springfield, Ohio
• Dwayne Stanley Childs, 33, Columbus, Ohio
• Justin M. Berrien, 42, Springfield, Ohio
• Kelvin R. Battle, 47, Springfield, Ohio
• Jermaine Anthony Peterson, 37, Springfield, Ohio
• Linda Laura Marie Houle, 47, Springfield, Ohio
• Carl Dewayne Jenkins, 53, Wadestown, West Virginia
• James Ian Sheets, 49, Fairview, West Virginia

jlaird@dispatch.com

@LairdWrites