A Cleveland, Ohio resident has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession. Kareem Middlebrook, 43, received his sentence on December 18, 2025, from United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan. In addition to the prison term, Middlebrook will serve eight years of supervised release.
According to court information, between December 2021 and March 2023 in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Middlebrook conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute significant quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and crack cocaine. In May 2022, he was found in possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. Authorities intercepted Middlebrook through a federal wiretap as he obtained drugs for distribution. During this period, despite a prior felony conviction that prohibited him from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law, Middlebrook unlawfully possessed a firearm.
Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard Jr. prosecuted the case for the government.
First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti praised the work of several agencies involved in the investigation: "The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations" were commended for their efforts leading to Middlebrook's prosecution. Other participating agencies included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation; United States Postal Inspection Service; Indiana Borough Police Department; and additional local law enforcement entities.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159. The HSTF brings together multiple government agencies to combat criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling operations within the United States and abroad. The task force focuses on identifying and prosecuting crimes such as child trafficking and uses all available resources to remove violent offenders from the country. In Western Pennsylvania, agents from both the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations participate in HSTF activities alongside prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
