A Cleveland, Ohio resident has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for drug trafficking. The sentencing was announced by Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti following a conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, and crack.
On April 10, 2025, United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on 35-year-old Deangelo Ward. He will also serve four years of supervised release after completing his prison term.
The court was presented with evidence that between July 2022 and March 2023, Ward was involved in a conspiracy to distribute significant amounts of cocaine and fentanyl, along with a quantity of crack, in the Western District of Pennsylvania. His activities were confirmed by a federal wiretap that recorded him acquiring drugs for distribution.
Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard Jr. led the prosecution of Ward. The investigation was praised by Acting United States Attorney Rivetti, who acknowledged the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations. Other agencies like the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, and local law enforcement were also involved.
This case is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, which aims to identify and dismantle significant drug traffickers and related criminal organizations using a multi-agency approach.