Federal prosecutors say a longtime West Side drug player is headed away for two decades. Petrocelli Robertson, 40, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison on Tuesday after officials accused him of running a drug-trafficking organization from multiple Columbus residences and continuing to call shots from behind bars. The sentence concludes a multiyear federal investigation into the distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine on the city’s west side.
According to the US Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Robertson was a member of a trafficking ring that sold fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine and continued to direct associates even after his incarceration, as reported by WBNS. Prosecutors said he pleaded guilty to conspiracy and firearms charges related to the plan. According to court records reviewed by investigators, the trafficking occurred “from May 2021 until July 2024” near Racine and Dana avenues.
Federal court record
According to court documents, Robertson pleaded guilty in September 2025 to conspiracy to distribute mixes comprising fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, as well as being a felon in possession of guns. According to the record on Leagle, a magistrate judge recommended accepting the plea, and the district court followed that decision as the matter progressed toward sentencing.
How investigators say the ring worked
According to prosecutors, Robertson managed stash homes on the west side and handled narcotics sales and cash through a close circle of colleagues. Even after his incarceration, he allegedly continued to direct operations from state prisons. The US Attorney’s Office also detailed Robertson’s prior criminal history, which included an earlier conviction for kidnapping with a firearm and later state-level misconduct for bringing drugs into a correctional facility and assaulting a corrections officer. Two of his four co-defendants are still awaiting sentencing, and his ex wife, Amber Limoli, has pled guilty to continuing the business while he is in jail, according to WBNS.
Legal context
Federal conspiracy and distribution offenses involving fentanyl and other controlled narcotics, as well as weapons enhancements for felons in possession of firearms, result in substantial prison sentences and potential confiscation. When deciding on punishment, judges consider a defendant’s prior record, the quantities involved, and the individual’s role in the crime. Robertson entered into a Rule 11 plea deal, and docket entries detail the counts and plea agreements that set the stage for sentencing, according to Leagle.
Two of Robertson’s four co-defendants have sentence hearings scheduled for this week, so related prosecutions in the case are still ongoing in Columbus. Prosecutors say the 20-year federal sentence reflects both the extent of the trafficking scheme and Robertson’s criminal record.
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