AKRON, OH — Joshua Fortson, a 37-year-old man from Akron, was sentenced to 29 years in prison on Thursday after being convicted of multiple charges, including distributing methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio announced.
Fortson had been involved in a drug trafficking operation for several years, receiving methamphetamine shipments from sources affiliated with the MS-13 gang in Georgia. These drugs were transported to Akron, where Fortson ran his operations from his apartment. He paid a driver to make the 700-mile trip from Atlanta to Akron, trailing the driver during the journey.
Fortson was known as a methamphetamine supplier in both Portage and Summit Counties, distributing the drugs, along with others, in the area. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also reported that in 2019, parole officers visited Fortson’s home while he was under supervised release from a previous sentence. They discovered he was in violation of the terms of his release, leading to a search warrant being executed at his residence.
During the search, authorities found $26,275 in cash, a loaded pistol, and several bags of suspected methamphetamine hidden inside 18 chip bags and a breakfast pastry box. Investigators also discovered a heat sealer, a device used to reseal the chip bags after filling them with drugs. Fortson had over seven kilograms of methamphetamine in his possession, intended for sale.
Fortson’s actions and affiliations with the MS-13 gang contributed to his 29-year sentence, which serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession.
