Akron resident Maurice A. Stewart, 31, stood before U.S. District Judge David A. Ruiz and was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a meth trafficking operation in Akron. His October guilty plea covered conspiracy, distribution, and possession involving methamphetamine and fentanyl.
The investigation began in October 2022, when ATF agents and the Portage County Sheriff’s Office Drug and Violent Crime Unit started examining drug and firearm activity across Akron. When officers searched Stewart’s West Long Street home, they recovered meth, fentanyl, firearms, and other evidence tying him to a broader network.
According to federal agents, the case took shape after months of coordinated surveillance throughout Northeast Ohio. Investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives worked closely with local deputies to monitor how significant amounts of meth traveled across the region and who played a role.
Search warrants carried out at several properties led officers to seize drugs, firearms, and documents agents believe recorded distribution efforts. Authorities also raided two Akron addresses on East Archwood Avenue and Tonawanda Avenue, reporting more illegal items connected to associates within the same network.
Assistant United States Attorney Joseph P. Dangelo led the government’s case. When announcing the outcome, officials said actions like this aim to interrupt supply routes that extend far beyond one block, reaching into other neighborhoods and continuing across the broader community.
Prosecutors charged Stewart with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. He entered a guilty plea in October, acknowledging his role in moving controlled substances within the Akron area.
Court documents show the charges carried significant federal penalties given the quantities involved. In addition to the prison term, the judge ordered three years of supervised release after incarceration, placing continued conditions on Stewart once he returns to the community.
Officials said the sentence reflects the seriousness of combining narcotics and firearms activity. In a Department of Justice statement, authorities noted the case underscores federal commitment to addressing drug networks that affect neighborhoods across Northeast Ohio.
The investigation also named Kevin R. McQuain, 46, and Kenneth L. Pitman, 54, both living in Akron. McQuain was handed a 100-month federal prison term. Pitman received 90 months, plus additional penalties because of his record as a convicted felon.
Prosecutors noted that Pitman’s case included illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, which made the sentence more serious. Authorities say when narcotics and weapons overlap, risks climb fast, particularly in neighborhoods already working through long-standing addiction challenges.
In comments released by the Department of Justice, officials stressed that coordinated cases speak to the entire region. They said dismantling full trafficking networks, instead of focusing only on single arrests, remains a central strategy for reducing meth and fentanyl on neighborhood streets.
Cases like this often lead to debate about what really slows drug trafficking in cities such as Akron. Some community advocates say enforcement by itself cannot fix addiction. Federal officials respond that steady, long-term investigations are needed to reduce supply and shield families from harmful substances.
Justice Department representatives have stated that coordinated cases are designed to break apart full distribution chains instead of concentrating on just one arrest. As Northeast Ohio continues facing meth and fentanyl issues, authorities indicate similar multi-agency efforts will remain key to future prosecutions and prevention plans.