Ohio Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking

AKRON, Ohio – Seth Hoover, age 39, of Republic, Ohio, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after being found guilty at a jury trial of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

According to court documents, an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper observed Hoover make a traffic violation on U.S. Route 250 in Ashland County. During the traffic stop, Hoover presented fake identification.  A search of his vehicle revealed a loaded pistol, approximately 1.8 kilograms of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and items associated with drug trafficking.

The investigation determined the street value of the fentanyl to be approximately $120,000.

This case was investigated by the DEA-Cleveland District Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Dangelo for the Northern District of Ohio.