A Cleveland man who led a drug trafficking operation that mass-produced fentanyl pills and distributed them across the state was sentenced to prison on Wednesday.
Thomas Taylor, 43, was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple drug-related counts earlier this year, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
He must also serve ten years of supervised release following incarceration and pay $10,000 in fines.
According to court documents, Taylor recruited numerous individuals to assist him in running a significant drug trafficking business in northern Ohio.
Investigators said they produced fentanyl pills using materials obtained from Taylor’s sources in Mexico.
“Taylor maintained pill-pressing equipment at several residences throughout the Greater Cleveland area that could make hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills each day,” the attorney’s office stated in a statement.
During the investigation, authorities discovered and seized over 3 kilograms of fentanyl, 2 kilos of methamphetamine, 1/2 kilogram of cocaine, various firearms with ammunition, cash, and other drug paraphernalia.
Taylor pleaded guilty in July to the following charges: conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, maintaining drug premises, and felon in possession of firearms or ammunition.
Previously, Noreece Young, 53, of Cleveland, pled guilty to his involvement in the cocaine enterprise. Young is serving a 15-year jail sentence.
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