Akron Man Sentenced to 23 Years for Illegal Possession of Meth, 14 Firearms and Stolen Police Body Armor

Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan announced that on Friday, October 29, 2021, Judge Christopher A. Boyko sentenced Justin D. Martin, 34, of Akron, Ohio, to 23 years imprisonment after a jury found Martin and codefendant Brandon L. Sheridan, 34, of Akron, guilty of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in July of 2021.

According to court documents, on January 10, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence on Lake Street in Akron. An earlier investigation had revealed that Martin and Sheridan were using the address as a base of operations to conduct drug trafficking activities.  During the execution of the search warrant, officers encountered Martin and Sheridan inside the residence and secured approximately 1 kilogram of methamphetamine, 14 firearms (four of which were reported stolen), ammunition, approximately $7,000 in cash, drug packaging materials and paraphernalia.

Officers also recovered law enforcement-issued body armor from the residence, which was previously reported stolen from a Cuyahoga Falls police officer during a residential burglary.

Brandon Sheridan is scheduled to be sentenced on November 15, 2021.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Akron Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron P. Howell and Peter E. Daly.