Akron Drug Dealer Jaquar Latimer Gets 199 Months for Guns, Cocaine

Akron man Jaquar Keyshore Latimer, 43, is headed back behind bars for nearly 17 years after a federal jury convicted him of dealing cocaine and hoarding firearms as a convicted felon. On August 23, 2019, Latimer was found guilty following trial, and on Monday, Judge Sara Lioi slammed him with a 199-month prison sentence—a stark warning to career criminals flooding Ohio cities with drugs and guns.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman didn’t mince words: ‘This defendant has spent the majority of his adult life dealing drugs and illegally possessing firearms.’ Herdman pointed to the rising tide of gun violence in Akron and across Northern Ohio, stressing that federal prosecutors are done tolerating repeat offenders who arm themselves while spreading addiction and fear.

The breaking point came February 9, 2018, when Ohio Parole Authority officers conducted a home visit at Latimer’s residence. The moment they stepped inside, they spotted Latimer standing within feet of a loaded 9mm handgun sitting on a couch. That discovery triggered a full search, with Akron Police Department officers joining the fray and unearthing a cache of criminal evidence.

Inside the home, law enforcement found 11 grams of cocaine, over $1,000 in cash, and three loaded firearms: the stolen 9mm, a .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun, and a .357 revolver—all in the hands of a man legally barred from owning any weapon. Latimer had already served federal time for being a felon in possession of a firearm, adding sexual battery, aggravated assault, and drug possession to his rap sheet.

Roland Herndon, ATF’s Special Agent in Charge for the Columbus Field Division, called Latimer a menace who spent his adult years spreading violence and addiction. ‘This lengthy sentence will ensure that he does not have the opportunity to continue to terrify and intimidate the Akron community,’ Herndon stated, underscoring the joint ATF-Akron PD investigation that dismantled Latimer’s street operation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan D. O’Shea and Mark S. Bennett, closing another chapter in the federal crackdown on repeat gun and drug offenders. Latimer’s 199-month sentence reflects the DOJ’s hardline stance: for felons who rearm and reoffend, federal prison doors swing shut—for years.