U.S. Attorney: Solon Man Key Player in Massive Drug Ring

A Solon resident was a key player in a large-scale heroin trafficking ring, laundering drug profits through bank accounts and the purchase of more than 50 luxury cars, according to an indictment handed down by a federal grand jury earlier this month.

Eight people were indicted in the ring, which took place between March 2007 and February 2011, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office of Northern Ohio.

Jimmie Goodgame, 41, of 36875 Broadstone Drive in Solon's Signature 2 subdivision, and others in the ring are accused of laundering more than $1.5 million in drug profits into bank accounts between 2008 and 2010.

Goodgame and his wife, Stacy Goodgame, 40, of Reminderville, then bought more than 50 luxury cars that were titled to three companies the couple owned, according to the indictment.

The cars -- including multiple Range Rovers, Porsches, Audis, Cadillacs, Mercedes Benzs, BMWS and a Maserati -- were driven and controlled by drug dealers, prosecutors say.

"This case shows the nexus between drugs and money," U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach said in a news release. "Drug dealers can't walk into their neighborhood bank and deposit their ill-gotten cash."

Also indicted were: Addonnise Wells, 28, of South Euclid; Mario Freeman, 27, of Garfield Heights; James Jones, 28, of Cleveland; John R. Toone III, 60, of Columbus; Dimitris Terry, 39, of Westmont, IL; and Aaron Phillips, 28, of Hartville.

Wells and Freeman were identified as the leaders of the ring, prosecutors say. They are accused of using an apartment in Lakewood to stash heroin before dealing it from homes in Cleveland.

Investigators told the Plain Dealer that Solon police had suspected Goodgame for years. The FBI, IRS and local police built the case against him with wiretaps, surveillance, traffic stops and document analysis. 

A big break came, prosecutors told the newspaper, when a car registered to Goodgame was pulled over outside of Chicago in 2007 and police found "more than $500,000 in cash hidden away in heat-sealed containers."

In 2008, another car owned by one of Goodgame's companies was seized during a heroin bust.

Read more about the case at the Plain Dealer.