Rebecca C. Lutzko United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
Joshua Fortson, a 37-year-old man from Akron, Ohio, has been sentenced to 29 years in prison. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Sara Lioi presided over the case, where a federal jury found Fortson guilty on charges including distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Fortson had previous convictions for trafficking cocaine in 2009 and sexual battery in 2011.
Authorities discovered that Fortson received methamphetamine supplies from sources in Georgia, linked to the gang "La Mara Salvatrucha," or "MS-13." He hired a driver to transport the drugs from Atlanta to Akron, closely following on the 700-mile journey.
Once in Akron, Fortson operated his drug business from his apartment, supplying methamphetamine and other drugs to individuals in Portage and Summit counties. In 2019, parole officers found him violating terms of his supervised release from a prior conviction. A subsequent search of his residence revealed $26,275 in cash, a loaded pistol, and methamphetamine hidden in 18 chip bags and a pastry box.
The investigation was carried out by the DEA Youngstown Field Office, the Streetsboro Police Department, and the Portage County Drug Task Force. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine Makridis for the Northern District of Ohio.
