Rashid Carter, Heroin Trafficking, Ohio 2013
Two Akron men were sentenced to prison for their roles in a conspiracy that brought heroin from Chicago to be sold around Ravenna and Akron, law enforcement officials said.
Rashid Carter, 30, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his involvement in the heroin trafficking ring.
Laverne Fortson, 40, was sentenced to 9 years in prison for his role in the conspiracy.
The investigation revealed that Fortson and Carter received heroin shipments in 2013 and 2014 and provided the heroin to other dealers for distribution in and around Akron and Ravenna.
Carter also purchased heroin from a supplier in the Chicago area for distribution in and around Akron, and Fortson provided cash to facilitate the Chicago drug transactions.
Fortson and Carter owned and rented properties in Akron that they used to store, process, and distribute heroin.
Carter was also found to have illegally possessed a Firestar, .45-caliber pistol, a Taurus, model 85, .38 special revolver, and ammunition on June 6, 2014, despite previous convictions for possession of cocaine in Portage County and failure to comply with a police officer in Summit County.
Fortson was found to have illegally possessed a Harrington and Richardson 16-gauge shotgun and ammunition on June 18, 2014, despite a previous conviction for aggravated trafficking in Portage County.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Summit County Drug Unit, the Akron Police Department, and the Portage County Drug Unit, with assistance from the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David M. Toepfer and M. Kendra Klump.
The sentencing of Fortson and Carter sends a strong message that the use of guns to protect a pipeline of heroin will not be tolerated in the community.
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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