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. U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese handed down the sentence after Thomas pleaded guilty in December 2025.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address drug trafficking in Northeast Ohio. Authorities say that Thomas’s actions posed a significant risk to the community due to the volume and type of drugs involved.
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 home and found him attempting to flush drugs down a toilet. Officers recovered more than 1,400 grams of methamphetamine, along with distribution quantities of fentanyl and cocaine. They also seized $2,132 in cash, two semiautomatic pistols—a Smith & Wesson Bodyguard .380 caliber and a Taurus GC3 9mm—and miscellaneous ammunition.
Thomas was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine; as well as being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. His prior convictions include trafficking in cocaine and possession of cocaine in 2008 and trafficking in marijuana in 2020. Due to these previous offenses, he was designated as a career offender.
In addition to his prison term, Thomas will serve five years of supervised release following his incarceration. The investigation was conducted by the Akron Police Department Narcotics Unit and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter E. Daly for the Northern District of Ohio.
