Meth and Fentanyl Supplier Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

AKRON, Ohio - A fourth defendant in a drug conspiracy case has been sentenced to prison for his role as being a supplier of methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout Summit County.

Ernest Shropshire, 38, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to 121 months (approximately 10 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after pleading guilty in January to the following charges as outlined in the indictment:

• Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl
• Distribution of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl
• Distribution of Fentanyl

Shropshire was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment.

According to court documents, from about April 1 through Aug. 28, 2023, Shropshire served as a supplier of methamphetamine and fentanyl to Calvin Roberts, 42. Shropshire would place the illicit drugs in a garbage can in the backyard of his house and then tell Roberts, and other buyers, where to retrieve them. In turn, Roberts would sell drugs to his neighbor, Andrew Corbin, 36, who lived only a short distance away from him. During the investigation, agents learned that the two neighbors would regularly sell the drugs-supplied by Shropshire-out of their homes. Using a network of co-conspirators, the methamphetamine and fentanyl supply was further distributed to customers in and around the Summit County area.

Roberts, Corbin, and Phillip August, age 57, all of Akron, were previously sentenced after pleading guilty to their roles in the drug conspiracy.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph P. Dangelo for the Northern District of Ohio.