Last of 11 defendants convicted in Ohio narcotics operation sentenced

COLUMBUS (WCMH) – The last of 11 people, including eight from Ohio and two from Columbus, was sentenced Thursday as part of a national narcotics distribution operation.

A U.S. District Court judge in Columbus sentenced 44-year-old Justin Berrien, of Springfield, to 70 months in prison for his role as a co-conspirator. Berrien was considered a mid-level retail drug distributor, who would sell in central Ohio, Youngstown, Springfield and in West Virginia.

According to court documents the leader of the organization, Isabel Castellanos, of Los Angeles, transported narcotics to a residence in Columbus, which served as a stash house. Berrien and others would then distribute the drugs regionally and Castellanos would collect drug proceeds before traveling back to California.

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One documented drug transaction involved a co-defendant transporting 5,000 fentanyl pills to another co-defendant’s home in Columbus in exchange for $36,000.

In June 2022 authorities seized 76 kilograms of fentanyl, seven firearms, vehicles and nearly $650,000 in cash. Castellanos was sentenced to 21 years in prison in June 2023.

The other defendants, including two from Columbus, were also arrested in June 2022 and sentenced as follows, according to the office of United States Attorney Kenneth Parker.

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