Rebecca C. Lutzko United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
A Cleveland man has been sentenced to over 17 years in federal prison for leading a drug trafficking operation that produced and distributed large quantities of fentanyl pills across Ohio.
Thomas Taylor, 43, received a sentence of 210 months (17.5 years) from U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after pleading guilty in July to several charges. The charges included conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, maintaining drug premises, and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Taylor had prior convictions for similar offenses in 2019, 2013, and 2007.
In addition to the prison term, Taylor was ordered to serve ten years of supervised release following his incarceration and pay $10,000 in fines. Judge Nugent imposed the sentence on December 3.
According to court records and evidence presented during proceedings, Taylor operated an extensive drug manufacturing network in northern Ohio. He recruited multiple individuals to assist with producing fentanyl pills using ingredients sourced from Mexico. Authorities reported that Taylor kept pill pressing equipment at various locations around Greater Cleveland capable of making hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills daily.
During the investigation, law enforcement seized several firearms and ammunition, significant amounts of cash, as well as drug paraphernalia such as scales and plastic bags. In total, authorities confiscated more than three kilograms of fentanyl, two kilograms of methamphetamine, and half a kilogram of cocaine.
Co-defendant Noreece Young, 53, also from Cleveland, previously pleaded guilty for his role in the conspiracy and is serving a fifteen-year prison sentence.
The case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division along with the Southeast Area Law Enforcement Narcotics Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.
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