A Canadian citizen has been sentenced to three years in prison after being caught with 90 pounds of MDMA, also known as ecstasy, in Ohio. Dontavius Forbes, 27, received his sentence from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick on November 21, following his guilty plea in June to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. After serving his sentence, Forbes will be deported to Canada.
Court documents state that on August 7, 2024, a U.S. Border Patrol agent noticed a compact SUV with Canadian license plates parked at a service plaza near the Interstate 80/90 Ohio Turnpike in Sandusky County. The agent approached Forbes, who was driving the vehicle. During a consensual search of the SUV, agents found modifications in the cargo area and discovered two hidden compartments containing vacuum-sealed packages suspected to contain illegal drugs. A field test confirmed one package contained MDMA. Authorities also seized nearly $3,000 in cash from the vehicle.
The remaining packages were sent to a forensic laboratory for further analysis, which confirmed they contained MDMA.
The investigation was carried out by the U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant United States Attorney Frank H. Spryszak prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.
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