CLEVELAND — The Ohio Investigative Unit said it conducted an 11-month Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program trafficking investigation in Cleveland in partnership with the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Nutrition Services.

The investigation found that Sagarmatha Home Decor LLC in Cleveland illegally exchanged over $17,000 in SNAP benefits for cash, clothes, appliances and more. 

A search warrant was executed at the business and the owner’s residence, which resulted in a total of $63,309 being seized. 

OIU said the owner has been indicted by the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury on multiple felony counts, which included the illegal use of SNAP benefits, money laundering, telecommunications fraud and grand theft. 

Additionally, in Cleveland, OIU said it conducted an operation that led to the confiscation of four illegal firearms and suspected methamphetamine. Three people were also arrested, who OIU identified as “violent felons,” including one offender who was on parole for attempted murder. 

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine joined with state, local and federal authorities on Monday, Nov. 3, to reiterate their partnership to reduce violent crime in Cleveland.

Gov. DeWine and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb introduced the Violence Reduction Initiative for Cleveland in 2023 to combat the increase in crime in the city.

“This partnership is a key example of what collaboration is all about,” said Mayor Bibb. “I’ve often said public safety is a group project. The men and women of our police department can’t do it alone. Federal law enforcement has played a critical role, state law enforcement has played a great role, as well as the county and the prosecutor.”

The partnership includes:

• Cleveland Division of Police (CPD)
• Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office
• Ohio State Highway Patrol
• Ohio Investigative Unit
• Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center
• Ohio Adult Parole Authority
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
• U.S. Marshals Service
• Homeland Security Investigations
• U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
• U.S. Department of Justice

Since July 2023, Cleveland has led to more than 1,400 felony arrests for serious crimes such as homicide and felonious assault and seized more than 1,000 illegally possessed firearms.

Recent data from the Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS) showed a small group of people commit most violent crimes in the state.

Less than 1% of Ohio adults were arrested each year for violent crimes or weapons charges between 1974 and 2023, most of those arrested being repeat offenders.

Approximately one-third of people arrested for violent crimes had been arrested five or more times before.

State officials have supported crime reduction programs in Cleveland, Toledo, Lima, Mansfield, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Dayton, Springfield, Columbus and Zanesville.

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating a close-call incident near the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

According to a social media post on Saturday, NTSB is sending a team to investigate a “loss of separation event” between an inbound Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 and a Eurocopter helicopter.

A loss of separation occurs when two aircraft come closer together than the minimum safe distance.

The close call event occurred on Oct. 29.

The Federal Aviation Administration posted on social media on Friday, ensuring safety amid shutdown-related staffing shortages.

19 News has reached out to the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, which shared the following statement:

19 News reached out to Southwest Airlines, which shared the following statement:

19 News confirmed that the helicopter involved was a medical helicopter en route to St. John Medical Center in Westlake.

Below is a statement from Metro Aviation provided by a spokesperson from MetroHealth Medical Center:

According to the spokesperson, the aircraft traveled from the base at the Wayne County Airport to St. John’s, and there were no patients on board at the time.

19 News also reached out to NTSB for more details.

This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.

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