Career Offender Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking Offenses

AKRON, Ohio, - A Summit County man, who has been designated, federally, as a career offender, has been sentenced to prison for drug trafficking after a two-year long investigation.

Robert Parham, 55, of Akron, was sentenced to 247 months (20.5 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster after pleading guilty in March to the following charges as outlined in the indictment:

• Three Counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm; prior convictions include Aggravating Trafficking in Drugs and Trafficking in Cocaine in 2018; Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs and Trafficking in Drugs in 2013; Complicity to Commit Burglary in 2005; and Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs in 1995.
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
• Four Counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine
• Possession of a Machine Gun
• Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises

In late 2023, federal agents began investigating suspected drug trafficking occurring throughout the Akron, Ohio, area. On July 2, 2024, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Parham's apartment in Akron where they seized:

• 178 grams of methamphetamine
• 142 grams of cocaine
• 355 grams of fentanyl
• Drug trafficking paraphernalia, including plastic baggies, a digital scale, kilo presses, blenders, and cutting agent.
• 28 firearms, including two stolen firearms. One firearm was outfitted with an attached machine gun conversion device.
• Marijuana, ecstasy tablets, three cellphones, and $1907.88 in U.S. currency.

The investigation leading to the indictment was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the FBI Akron Resident Agency and the Akron Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Joseph P. Dangelo for the Northern District Ohio led the prosecution.