U.S. Marshals Arrest Suspects in Two Separate Shootings From Franklin County

Canton/Sandusky, OH – This morning, the U.S. Marshals led Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) made arrests in two separate cases from Franklin County, Ohio.  Santiago Miguel Ramirez Ogando, 24, and Juan Carlos Rivera, 24, were wanted by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and United States Marshals Service for complicity to commit murder and felonious assault. Isaiah Wharton-Howard was wanted for murder, also out of Franklin County.

It is alleged that on August 8, 2024, Rivera and Ogando were involved in a shooting incident near an autobody shop in the 4000 block of Broad Street in Franklin Township, Ohio. This morning, members of the NOVFTF arrested both males at a hotel in the 1600 block of Corporate Woods Parkway, Uniontown, Ohio. Both were booked into the Summit County Jail and await extradition back to Franklin County. Ogando will likely face additional charges as he is an undocumented non-citizen.

Wharton-Howard is suspected in a shooting death in Columbus, Ohio.  It is alleged that Wharton-Howard had an altercation with the victim who he then shot and killed.  He was arrested in the 1400 block of Campbell Street in Sandusky where he was hiding with friends.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “The partnership between the US Marshals service in the Northern district and the Southern district of Ohio is strong. These fugitives thought they could commit violent offenses in southern Ohio and flee to northern Ohio. Decisive and collaborative efforts led to these arrests and will prevent them from potentially harming anyone else in Ohio.”

Anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can submit a web tip. Reward money is available, and tipsters may remain anonymous.  Follow the U.S. Marshals on Twitter @USMSCleveland.  

The NOVFTF Canton Division consists of the following federal, state and local agencies:  United States Marshals Service, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Stark County Sheriff’s Office, Canton Police Department, Carrollton Police Department, Holmes County Sheriff’s Office, North Canton Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Perry Township Police Department, Stark County Park District, and Stark County Probation.