Canton man indicted on fentanyl and firearms charges

A Canton man was indicted on fentanyl and firearms charges.

Michael J. Meadows, 48, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

Meadows on Jan. 18 possessed at least 40 grams of fentanyl, a Springfield .45-caliber pistol and ammunition. Meadows was prohibited from having firearms or ammunition because of prior convictions, including cocaine possession, having a weapon under disability and aiding and abetting distribution of crack cocaine, according to the indictment.

This case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron P. Howell.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

An indictment is a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.