Buckeye Reporter

A Cleveland man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking operation distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine across the Greater Cleveland area.

Murray Foster, 39, received a 120-month sentence from U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker after pleading guilty in April to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, as well as possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. In addition to his prison term, Foster will serve four years of supervised release following his incarceration.

Court documents state that between April 1 and July 12, 2023, Foster and an accomplice conspired to distribute significant quantities of illegal drugs. The substances included over 100 grams of a fentanyl analogue, more than 400 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl, at least 500 grams of methamphetamine, and at least 500 grams of crack cocaine.

During searches related to the investigation, federal agents seized more than 500 fentanyl pills, five pounds of methamphetamine, one kilogram each of fentanyl analogues and cocaine, 28 grams of crack cocaine, five handguns, a rifle, a shotgun, over $19,000 in cash, and a motorcycle. Authorities also recovered various packaging materials and drug paraphernalia.

Co-defendant Deion Thompson, age 29 and also from Cleveland, pleaded guilty for his role in the same conspiracy in July. He is scheduled for sentencing on January 5, 2026.

The Southeast Area Law Enforcement Task Force collaborated with the FBI’s Cleveland Division on this case. Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian prosecuted the matter for the Northern District of Ohio.