Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison For Drug and Firearms Offenses While Out on Parole

AKRON, Ohio - A Summit County man with a history of criminal conduct has been sentenced to prison again for violating several federal drug and firearms laws while out on parole for a previous offense.

Darron Portis, 36, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison after pleading guilty to:

• Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; prior convictions include Aggravated Robbery in 2008, Abduction in 2012, Burglary in 2015, and being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm in 2021.
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine).
• Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.

He was also ordered to serve four years of supervised release after imprisonment. U.S. District Court Judge Benita Y. Pearson imposed the sentence April 30.

According to court documents, investigations into suspected drug trafficking activity in Akron led federal agents to identify Portis. During the execution of a search warrant in Akron where Portis was staying in January 2025, agents found Portis in possession of a loaded Smith and Wesson 0.38 caliber revolver and a bag of a white powdery substance, which was later confirmed to be cocaine. Hidden inside the home's duct work, agents also located a lock box containing purple and white substances and a digital scale. The purple substance was confirmed to be a mixture of tramadol, xylazine, fluorofentanyl, and fentanyl. The white substance tested positive for methamphetamine. Other items seized from the residence included a 12-gauge shotgun and about $1,400 in cash.

This case was investigated by the DEA Cleveland District Office and the Akron Police Department.

The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Wojtasik and James P. Lewis for the Northern District of Ohio.