Cedric Thomas, a 47-year-old resident of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced on Mar. 10 to 20 years in prison for possessing and intending to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, as well as for possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon.
Thomas received the sentence from U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese after pleading 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. The court also ordered Thomas to serve five years of supervised release following his imprisonment.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to address drug trafficking activities in Northeast Ohio. Due to previous convictions for drug-related offenses—including trafficking in cocaine and marijuana—Thomas was designated as a career offender.
According to court documents, detectives from the Akron Police Department Narcotics Unit began investigating Thomas’s suspected drug activity in November 2023. On Jan. 24, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at his residence where they found Thomas attempting to flush drugs down a toilet. Authorities seized more than 1,400 grams of methamphetamine, along with distribution quantities of fentanyl and cocaine. They also recovered $2,132 in cash, two semiautomatic pistols—a Smith & Wesson Bodyguard .380 caliber and a Taurus GC3 9mm—and miscellaneous ammunition.
The investigation was conducted by the Akron Police Department Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Peter E. Daly prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.
