Four indicted for alleged roles in marijuana growing operation in Geauga County

Four people were indicted in federal court April 12 for their alleged roles in a marijuana grow and distribution ring in which nearly 1,600 plants and numerous firearms were seized.

Named in the six-count indictment are: James Nagy, 37, of Willoughby; Kenneth Sovaca, 27, of Geneva; Bridget Gregori, 27, of Richmond Heights, and Robert Weikart, 37, of Wickliffe.

Nagy, Sovaca and Weikert are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. Weikart is charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

All four defendants are charged with maintaining a drug house from an address on Ledge Road in Thompson Township. Nagy and Weikart are charged with maintaining a drug house related to an address on Clay Street in Ashtabula County.

Investigators seized about 1,580 plants from two locations on Nov. 7, 2017. They also seized $107,822 in cash and approximately 20 firearms, according to court documents.

“We have seen time and again that guns are unfortunately present in every large drug operation,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said in a news release. “This was a large marijuana trafficking organization that, not surprisingly, included an AK-47 and other firearms as part of its illegal enterprise. This is but one example of what we see in law enforcement operations all the time – where there are large amounts of drugs and cash, violence and firearms are almost always present as well.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy Plancon added, “Drug trafficking and violence are synonymous. The arrest and prosecution of these gun-toting marijuana dealers contributes to the safety of the Geauga and Ashtabula community.”

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, Willoughby Police Department, Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office, Ashtabula Police Department, Westlake Police Department, Lake County Narcotics Agency and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Published by The News-Herald