Jarad Paster, a 32-year-old resident of Berea, Ohio, has been sentenced to 14.5 years in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Patricia A. Gaughan for distributing fentanyl-laced drugs that resulted in the deaths of three individuals. Following his prison term, Paster will serve three years of supervised release.
Paster was charged in June 2024 with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, along with distribution resulting in death. He entered a guilty plea in December 2024.
Court documents reveal that from April 1-15, 2023, Paster and co-conspirator Matthew Jarrell conspired to sell illegal drugs including cocaine and fentanyl. On April 15, three people died from overdoses after ingesting these substances provided by Paster and Jarrell.
Jarrell received a ten-year prison sentence on January 30, 2025, after pleading guilty to similar charges in July 2024.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA’s Cleveland District Office and the FBI Cleveland Task Force in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Crook.
Fentanyl is recognized as highly lethal even in small quantities according to the DEA. For more information on their “One Pill Can Kill” campaign, visit dea.gov/onepill.
