Akron Man Cops to Meth Trafficking in West Virginia

Devante Terrell Hatch, a 28-year-old man from Akron, Ohio, pleaded guilty to federal charges after being caught smuggling more than four pounds of methamphetamine into Parkersburg, West Virginia. The bust, led by the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force, marks another high-stakes interception in the ongoing battle against out-of-state drug networks flooding Appalachian communities with deadly narcotics.

On February 25, 2019, law enforcement received a tip that a major drug drop was imminent at an apartment on Staunton Avenue. The delivery vehicle, described as coming from Akron with Ohio plates, was expected between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Uniformed officers began surveillance and, at 10:05 p.m., spotted a GMC Terrain matching the description pull into the alley behind the building. Police moved in quickly.

Hatch, behind the wheel, claimed he was visiting his girlfriend but couldn’t name her address. The smell of marijuana hung in the air. When questioned, he admitted to having pot in the car. A search revealed two backpacks stuffed with marijuana and, more critically, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine—over four pounds—enough to supply a small city for weeks. He admitted in court he intended to distribute the drugs in Parkersburg.

“Another Akron drug dealer is caught bringing his poison into West Virginia,” said U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart. “Hatch joins a long list of out-of-state drug dealers prosecuted by my office.” Stuart emphasized the collaboration between federal prosecutors and local law enforcement, as well as cross-state coordination with Ohio agencies to dismantle supply chains feeding the region’s addiction crisis.

Hatch now faces a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison, up to 40 years, and at least four years of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for December 9, 2020, before U.S. District Judge Irene C. Berger. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Hanks is leading the prosecution.

The investigation was conducted by the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force and the Parkersburg Police Department. Court documents are available via PACER under Case No. 2:20-cr-00061. This case is part of a broader federal crackdown on interstate drug trafficking through the Southern District of West Virginia.

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