C Career offender sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison for drug trafficking and firearms offenses (DOJ)

CLEVELAND - A 30-year-old man with a history of drug trafficking offenses has been sentenced to prison after he was once again found in violation of federal drug and firearms laws.

Jermaine S. Cottrell, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 155 months (12.91 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after pleading guilty in June to:

• Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; prior convictions include Drug Trafficking in 2018, 2020, and 2021
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (3 counts).

Judge Nugent also ordered Cottrell to serve three years of supervised release and to forfeit a pistol, magazine, and ammunition.

According to court documents and evidence presented before the court, in September 2025, Cottrell was located in the parking lot of a CVS pharmacy. As officers attempted to box in the car to prevent flight, Cottrell, used his vehicle to ram into police cars and then fled on foot.

While officers attempted to secure him in handcuffs, Cottrell shoved several small plastic bags of narcotics into his mouth which he later spit out while EMS transported him to a hospital. A forensic analysis of the drugs in Cottrell's possession were determined to include cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fluorofentanyl, and fentanyl. A firearm with an extended magazine was in the driver's side door of the vehicle Cottrell was operating.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Lakewood Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer J. King led the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.

Contact

Jessica Salas Novak

[email protected]

Updated September 21, 2026