A suspect, labeled by prosecutors as the initiator of the widely viewed July 26 downtown Cincinnati altercation, faces new legal issues, now involving federal authorities. 

Jermaine Mathews, aged 39, has been charged with federal drug offenses, according to a release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio on Monday afternoon. 

“The superseding indictment alleges Mathews was involved in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl,” stated United States Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “He is additionally accused of maintaining a property on Kenton Street in Cincinnati for narcotics trafficking.” 

Upon his arraignment for the new charges on Aug. 14, Mathews’ bond was kept at $100,000. 

His lawyer, Brandon Fox, declined to comment. 

He becomes the second out of eight individuals arrested in connection to the assault to face federal charges, though, in both instances, the federal allegations are unrelated to the accused assault.

On Aug. 13, Montianez Merriweather, 34, was charged with illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. 

Recently charged in the case is one of the victims, 45-year-old Alex Tchervinski. He is observed slapping one of the assailants in the viral footage and has been accused of disorderly conduct. 

Tchervinski’s lawyer, Douglas Brannon, said his client was allegedly hit in the head 28 times and robbed during the attack, while trying to protect his girlfriend and another friend during the melee. 

“What this has done, it has made Alex a victim now for the second time by bringing criminal charges against him,” Brannon told Fox News Digital. “What actually occurred is Alex was hit multiple times, before he slapped back in an attempt to try and defend himself and back off this group of thugs.”