Heroin defendant gets almost 5 years in prison

A heroin defendant with a previous felony conviction for selling cocaine was sentenced to 57 months in prison Tuesday.

Norwalk resident Andrew F. Olaniyan, 41, will serve four years for possession of heroin, a second-degree felony punishable by a two- to eight-year prison sentence. Consecutive to that, he will spend nine months for trafficking in heroin. The possession incident happened April 10 and the controlled drug buy was May 20.The sentence was a joint recommendation between Huron County Assistant Prosecutor Richard Woodruff and defense attorney Ben Chapman.

On Sept. 22, Olaniyan pleaded guilty to one count each of possession of heroin and trafficking in heroin. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dismissed one count each of possession of cocaine and possession of criminal tools.

Olaniyan forfeited about $387 seized by the Norwalk Police Department during the April 10 incident. He also must reimburse the agency $40 for drug testing. Huron County Common Pleas Judge Jim Conway waived a $7,500 fine since the defendant is indigent.

“I take full responsibility for everything,” Olaniyan told the judge.
Police arrested three people April 10 when detectives and eight members of the special response team entered a Marian Drive residence about 4:15 a.m. Detectives capped off a three-month investigation and police seized 10 to 20 grams of suspected crack and powdered cocaine, 50 grams of uncut heroin and almost $900 in cash.

Besides Olaniyan, Norwalk residents Kristie L. Denney, 40, of 520 Milan Ave., Lot 220, and Burl F. “Frank” Staley, 40, of 1746 Scranton Road, were arrested.

“Andrew Olaniyan was able to bond out later that day and continued selling illegal drugs,” Detective Sgt. Seth Fry said earlier.

On May 20, police coordinated a controlled purchase of heroin from Olaniyan within close proximity to a school. He was arrested June 16 and posted bond.

Denney has applied for intervention in lieu of conviction. She and Staley are charged with one count each of possession of cocaine and permitting drug abuse. Staley’s trial date is Oct. 20.

Olaniyan was convicted and imprisoned for trafficking in cocaine in 2010 and 2013. In June 2004, he was sentenced to eight months in prison for attempted burglary. About four years later, Olaniyan received an 11-month prison term for attempted domestic violence.

Originally published in the Norwalk Reflector on September 30, 2015.