CLEVELAND – A Berea, Ohio, dealer has been handed a 14-year sentence for distributing fentanyl-laced drugs that led to the tragic overdose deaths of three people within a single day. Jarad Paster, 32, pleaded guilty to dealing substances that caused the fatalities and was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patricia A. Gaughan on July 8.
Paster faced charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, specifically cocaine and fentanyl. He conspired with Matthew Jarrell, 44, of Lakewood, Ohio, between April 1-15, 2023. Court documents reveal that the drugs sold by Paster and Jarrell resulted in three deaths on April 15, 2023.
Jarrell was sentenced to 10 years after pleading guilty in July 2024 for similar charges. The DEA warns that fentanyl is extremely lethal, even in small amounts, highlighting the dangers of such substances with their “One Pill Can Kill” awareness campaign. For more information, visit dea.gov/onepill.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Cleveland District Office, the FBI Cleveland Task Force, the Cleveland Division of Police, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Crook prosecuted the case.
Paster has also been ordered to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. This sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the dire consequences associated with drug trafficking and the deadly impact of fentanyl-laced substances on communities across Ohio.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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