Ohio Man Sentenced 11 Years for Meth Trafficking Ring

Ohio man Antuan McClendon, 43, of Cincinnati, has been sentenced to 11 years and three months in federal prison without parole for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking ring.

A federal court in Kansas City, MO, heard the case, with U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips handing down the sentence to McClendon.

The arrest of McClendon occurred on December 21, 2023, when a law enforcement drug-sniffing dog alerted officers to his backpack in an overhead compartment aboard a bus traveling from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Indianapolis, Indiana, that stopped at a terminal in Kansas City, MO.

Officers searched McClendon’s backpack and found a large bundle hidden within a pair of jeans. The bundle contained three smaller bundles, each of which contained multi-colored tablets inside clear heat-sealed bags. In total, the bundles contained 8,288 methamphetamine tablets, which weighed a total of 2,899 grams.

McClendon admitted to officers that he had purchased the pills in Las Vegas and planned to sell them for $1 apiece. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stefan C. Hughes and investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

McClendon pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute on December 21, 2023. The severity of the sentence reflects the gravity of the crime and the significant quantities of methamphetamine involved.

The sentencing of McClendon serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat the trafficking of illicit substances and bring those responsible to justice.