A Cleveland man, Lamont Johnson, 43, has been sentenced to 17.5 years in federal prison for drug distribution and firearm offenses while on parole. U.S. District Judge John R. Adams handed down the sentence after Johnson pleaded guilty last October to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and xylazine, as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Johnson’s criminal history includes prior convictions for drug trafficking in 2022 and 2012. He was also ordered to serve eight years of supervised release following his imprisonment. The court classified him as a career offender due to a record of drug and violent felony convictions dating back to 2001 and repeated violations of supervised release conditions.
According to court documents, on November 15, 2023, agents observed suspected drug activity at a gas station on East 55th Street in Cleveland involving Johnson’s vehicle. When agents attempted a traffic stop, Johnson fled but was apprehended shortly after.
Agents found a loaded Glock 9 mm pistol in plain view on the driver’s seat of Johnson’s vehicle along with cash and a clear plastic bag containing suspected controlled substances. A second bag with suspected marijuana was recovered from the ground at the gas station where Johnson fled on foot. Further search revealed multiple baggies with powdery substances, sandwich bags, a digital scale, and $53 cash inside the vehicle. Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of fentanyl, xylazine, and cocaine.
The investigation was conducted by agents from the Ohio Investigative Unit working as Task Force Officers with the ATF Crime Gun Intelligence Center. These officers focus on reducing violent crime statewide by targeting high-crime areas and armed offenders involved in drug trafficking.
Assistant United States Attorney Scott Zarzycki prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.
