Police charge 4 with drug trafficking

SANDUSKY — Four people were arrested for an alleged scheme to sell drugs while one of the group's members was behind bars. These four individuals have been indicted by an Erie County grand jury: • Rontonio J. Daniels, 43, of the 2200 block of St. Clair St. in Sandusky, was charged with one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a second-degree felony; one count of cocaine possession, a second-degree felony; and one count of cocaine trafficking, a second-degree felony. • Kala Weese, 31, of the 2600 block of Tiffin Ave. in Sandusky, was charged with one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a second-degree felony; one count of cocaine possession, a second-degree felony; and one count of cocaine trafficking, a second-degree felony. • Nicholas Shaw, 31, of Lorain, was charged with one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a second-degree felony; one count of cocaine possession, a second-degree felony; one count of cocaine trafficking, a second-degree felony; and one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony. • Andrea Meinhold, 34, of the seventh block of Pleasant Street in Wakeman, was charged with one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a second-degree felony; one count of cocaine possession, a second-degree felony; one count of cocaine trafficking, a second-degree felony; and one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony. What allegedly occurred Perkins police Detective Joseph Rotuno said that Daniels was in jail on unrelated charges when police learned this past May that Daniels was allegedly working with several individuals outside of the jail to help sell drugs at a township hotel while he was in jail. Rotuno, in collaboration with the Erie County Sheriff's Office, set up surveillance on the hotel and identified Weese as having rented a room. Police allegedly observed both Shaw and Meinhold present. "Ultimately, we obtained a search warrant to get into the room, and we located Shaw and Meinhold in the room along with a large amount of narcotics," Rotuno said. Based on Daniel's communication with the other three individuals, it was determined that the money made from the alleged operation would allegedly be split among the four and that Daniels would allegedly use some of the money to help with legal costs, Rotuno said. The additional charge of tampering with evidence that Shaw and Mienhold received came after they allegedly attempted to flush a bag filled with narcotics down a toilet at the hotel, Rotuno said. Daniels and Shaw are both still incarcerated at the Erie County Jail. Shaw is being held on a $50,000 bond and has an upcoming court date scheduled for Oct. 23. Daniels is on a $40,000 bond and has a court hearing scheduled for Nov. 5. Meinhold was released from jail on her own recognizance on Thursday and has a hearing scheduled for Nov. 6. Weese also appears to have been released from jail on a $40,000 bond, and does not have a court date set.