Rebecca C. Lutzko United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
Cedric Thomas of Akron was sentenced on Mar. 10 to 20 years in prison for possessing and intending to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, as well as for illegally possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon.
The sentencing follows an investigation by the Akron Police Department Narcotics Unit that began in November 2023. The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address drug trafficking and related offenses in Northeast Ohio.
Thomas, age 47, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to several charges: possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine; and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. His prior convictions include trafficking in cocaine and possession of cocaine in 2008, as well as trafficking in marijuana in 2020. Due to these previous drug convictions, Thomas was designated a career offender by the court.
According to court documents, investigators executed a search warrant at Thomas’s residence on Jan. 24, 2024. During the search, Thomas attempted to flush drugs down a toilet but was apprehended. Authorities recovered more than 1,400 grams of methamphetamine, along with distribution quantities of fentanyl (29 grams) and cocaine (28 grams). Agents also seized $2,132 in cash, two semiautomatic pistols—a Smith & Wesson Bodyguard .380 caliber and a Taurus GC3 9mm—and miscellaneous ammunition.
U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese ordered Thomas to serve five years of supervised release following his imprisonment. Assistant United States Attorney Peter E. Daly prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.
The outcome underscores continued law enforcement efforts against drug-related crime involving repeat offenders.
