An Akron man was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for leading a conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and heroin.

Patrick Griffin, 32, was sentenced to 210 months in prison. He previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin.

“This defendant orchestrated large shipments of heroin and methamphetamine from California to Ohio and sold these dangerous drugs around Akron,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “These drugs have caused particular pain in Summit County. A sentence of over seventeen years imprisonment is an appropriate punishment, as it reflects the harm the defendant caused to our community.”

Griffin received the methamphetamine and heroin from a source in California. He and others distributed the drugs to customers between 2015 and 2018, according to court documents.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Daly following an investigation by the Summit County Sheriff's Office, Summit County Drug Unit, Summit County Prosecutor's Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, U.S. Marshal Service and police departments from Copley, Barberton, Reminderville, Cuyahoga Falls, Springfield, New Franklin, Stow, the University of Akron and Silver Lake.

Eight people from Akron were indicted in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and heroin.

Named in the 18-count indictment are: Patrick Griffin, 31; Leonard Jones, Jr., 39; Jerome Walton, 34; Isaac Love, 33; Robert Hammond, 34; Anthoney Carter, 29; Eric Bennett, 26; and Natorria Clark, 33.

Griffin received the methamphetamine and heroin from a source in California. He and Walton distributed the drugs to customers including Jones, Love, Hammond, Carter and Bennett. Carter traveled between California and Ohio to transport the drugs for Griffin, according to the indictment.

This took place from June 2015 through this month, according to the indictment.

Walton is additionally charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than maximum. 

This cases is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa Riley following an investigation by the Summit County Sheriff's Office, Summit County Drug Unit, Summit County Prosecutor's Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, U.S. Marshal Service and police departments from Copley, Barberton, Reminderville, Cuyahoga Falls, Springfield, New Franklin, Stow, the University of Akron and Silver Lake.

An indictment is only a charge. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.