A Cleveland man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking operation that distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine across the Greater Cleveland area.
Murray Foster, 39, received a 120-month sentence from U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker after pleading guilty in April to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, as well as possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. In addition to his prison term, Foster was ordered to serve four years of supervised release following his incarceration.
Court documents state that between April 1 and July 12, 2023, Foster and an accomplice conspired to distribute significant quantities of illegal drugs: over 100 grams of a fentanyl analogue, more than 400 grams of fentanyl mixtures, at least 500 grams of methamphetamine-containing substances, and at least 500 grams of cocaine base (crack).
During the investigation, federal agents executed search warrants at multiple residences connected to the case. They seized over 500 fentanyl pills, five pounds of methamphetamine, one kilogram each of fentanyl analogues and cocaine, 28 grams of crack cocaine, five handguns, a rifle, a shotgun, more than $19,000 in cash, and a motorcycle. Authorities also recovered packaging materials, drug paraphernalia, and cutting agents.
Foster’s co-defendant Deion Thompson pleaded guilty for his role in the same conspiracy in July. Thompson is scheduled for sentencing on January 5, 2026.
The Southeast Area Law Enforcement Task Force worked alongside the FBI Cleveland Division during the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.
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