Ohio Man Sentenced to 29 Years in Prison for Trafficking Meth

AKRON, Ohio – Joshua Fortson, 37, of Akron, has been sentenced to 29 years in prison by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Sara Lioi after a trial in which a federal jury found him guilty of distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He was previously convicted of trafficking cocaine in 2009 and of committing sexual battery in 2011.

During this investigation, federal law enforcement officials learned that Fortson received his methamphetamine supply for a number of years from sources in Georgia who were affiliated with members of a gang “La Mara Salvatrucha,” also known as “MS-13.” The defendant paid a driver to transport methamphetamine from Atlanta, Georgia, to Akron, Ohio, while he followed closely behind on the 700-mile trek.

According to court documents, once back in Akron, Fortson would conduct the drug business out of his apartment. He was a known supplier of methamphetamine, as well as other drugs, to various individuals throughout Portage and Summit Counties.

In 2019, while out on supervised released after serving a prison sentence for a separate case, parole officers visited Fortson at his residence and found that he was not in compliance with the terms of his release. Subsequently, a search warrant was executed on Fortson’s residence where authorities discovered $26,275 in cash and a loaded pistol. Various bags containing suspected methamphetamine were found concealed in 18 different chip bags and a breakfast pastry box. A heat sealer was also discovered, and it was learned that it was used to seal the chip bags closed after being filled with drugs. The investigation also determined that Fortson possessed more than seven kilograms of methamphetamine that he intended to sell.

This case was investigated by the DEA Youngstown Field Office, the Streetsboro Police Department, and the Portage County Drug Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine Makridis for the Northern District of Ohio.