In 2012 the mid west was flowing with heroin and the Feds were knee deep in investigations trying to bring down different drug crews that controlled it. In Cleveland a FBI taskforce was 2 years into operation Fox hound which targeted a crew on the east side of Cleveland on 117th street, meanwhile in Chicago another federal task force was at the peak of their own investigation, operation red Barron, which targeted a ring of Mexican heroin suppliers based in Joliet Illinois. Though both task forces knew nothing of the other it was something that they both had in common, a mysterious kingpin heroin distributor with a 216 area code phone number that seems to be the key figure in their operations. That kingpin was Antione Matthews. Antoine at the time was a 36 year old east side Cleveland native that supplied major players in the Ohio dope game with high quality heroin from Mexico.
For years he got rich buying and reselling the dope because he operated under the radar by working from the shadows, paying people to pick up and drop off the work, and only selling to a small circle that he trusted using untraceable phones. He wasn't flashy and flamboyant or sloppy so he never gained the attention of police, but eventually his associations brought him down. As usual Antione sent 2 of his couriers to buy 5 and a half keys from his connect. He told the connect what his people were driving, when they would be there, who they were etc. What he didn't know was that this time the Fed's were listening to the conversation through his connects wiretapped phone because they, not him, was under investigation. As usual he gave his people the money, $330, 000 in cash, and sent them on their way. The pick up went smooth but on the way back to Cleveland, Antione's people was stopped by local cops, who were actually being instructed by the FBI , for turning without signaling. After a few moments of questioning the police called the k-9 unit and found the 5 kilos of dope. The FBI task force strategically let the local cops take credit for the bust to make it look like a random event, hoping their mystery man would come to the light to check on his late shipment. To even the FBI's surprise the plan worked, Antoine spoke to the connect on the phone and told them that he was coming to meet with them in person and get some more work. The feds heard every word and was waiting for him, as soon as he touched down in Joiliet they grabbed him. Him and the Joilet connects, whom was operating out of a super market, was arrested bringing operation Red Barron to an end.
Antoine was charged with numerous counts of federal conspiracy to distribute heroin. The double whammy for Antoine was when the Chicago Fed's called the Cleveland Fed's to let them know that they just caught a major supplier from their side of town, and the Cleveland Fed's said that they was investigating that same phone number because it popped up in phone records of two major dope dealers that they were investigating but they had no idea who it belonged to. Now the Cleveland Fed's knew who was supplying the big time operation on 117th street in east Cleveland that they have been watching for 2 years as part of operation Fox hound. Antoine is added to that indictment as well, which ended being the largest heroin bust in Ohio history as it brought about 92 arrest including well known Cleveland rapper "Chase ".
The Cleveland taskforce definitely acknowledged that after Antoine Matthews went down, the dope game went dry in Cleveland for a while leaving the streets struggling. Compared to other dope boys in his hood, nothing is really said about Antione as far as his dealings in the game, mainly because he kept a low profile and moved correctly for the most part, but one thing is for sure he definitely had the status of a boss and kingpin.
For years he got rich buying and reselling the dope because he operated under the radar by working from the shadows, paying people to pick up and drop off the work, and only selling to a small circle that he trusted using untraceable phones. He wasn't flashy and flamboyant or sloppy so he never gained the attention of police, but eventually his associations brought him down. As usual Antione sent 2 of his couriers to buy 5 and a half keys from his connect. He told the connect what his people were driving, when they would be there, who they were etc. What he didn't know was that this time the Fed's were listening to the conversation through his connects wiretapped phone because they, not him, was under investigation. As usual he gave his people the money, $330, 000 in cash, and sent them on their way. The pick up went smooth but on the way back to Cleveland, Antione's people was stopped by local cops, who were actually being instructed by the FBI , for turning without signaling. After a few moments of questioning the police called the k-9 unit and found the 5 kilos of dope. The FBI task force strategically let the local cops take credit for the bust to make it look like a random event, hoping their mystery man would come to the light to check on his late shipment. To even the FBI's surprise the plan worked, Antoine spoke to the connect on the phone and told them that he was coming to meet with them in person and get some more work. The feds heard every word and was waiting for him, as soon as he touched down in Joiliet they grabbed him. Him and the Joilet connects, whom was operating out of a super market, was arrested bringing operation Red Barron to an end.
Antoine was charged with numerous counts of federal conspiracy to distribute heroin. The double whammy for Antoine was when the Chicago Fed's called the Cleveland Fed's to let them know that they just caught a major supplier from their side of town, and the Cleveland Fed's said that they was investigating that same phone number because it popped up in phone records of two major dope dealers that they were investigating but they had no idea who it belonged to. Now the Cleveland Fed's knew who was supplying the big time operation on 117th street in east Cleveland that they have been watching for 2 years as part of operation Fox hound. Antoine is added to that indictment as well, which ended being the largest heroin bust in Ohio history as it brought about 92 arrest including well known Cleveland rapper "Chase ".
The Cleveland taskforce definitely acknowledged that after Antoine Matthews went down, the dope game went dry in Cleveland for a while leaving the streets struggling. Compared to other dope boys in his hood, nothing is really said about Antione as far as his dealings in the game, mainly because he kept a low profile and moved correctly for the most part, but one thing is for sure he definitely had the status of a boss and kingpin.
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