Toledo, Ohio – A Canadian citizen has been sentenced to federal prison after authorities found him in possession of a massive quantity of ecstasy in Ohio.
Dontavius Forbes, a 27-year-old Canadian national, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty in June to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick on November 21, 2025, in the Northern District of Ohio. Once Forbes completes his prison term, he will be deported back to Canada, as ordered by the court.
According to court records, the case began on August 7, 2024, when a U.S. Border Patrol agent noticed a compact SUV with Canadian license plates parked at a service plaza off Interstate 80/90 in Sandusky County. Suspicious of the vehicle, the agent initiated a conversation with Forbes, who was identified as the driver. A consensual search of the vehicle revealed signs of tampering in the cargo area.
Further inspection led agents to uncover two hidden compartments packed with vacuum-sealed packages. A field test conducted on one of the packages confirmed the presence of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) — commonly known as ecstasy, a Schedule I controlled substance often associated with recreational or party use. Authorities also seized approximately $3,000 in cash from inside the SUV.
All remaining packages were submitted for forensic analysis, which verified that the total seized substance amounted to approximately 90 pounds of MDMA.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol’s Sandusky Bay Station and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant United States Attorney Frank H. Spryszak prosecuted the case on behalf of the Northern District of Ohio.
This sentencing highlights ongoing efforts by federal agencies to disrupt illegal drug trafficking across U.S. borders and underscores the serious legal consequences for those caught attempting to distribute large quantities of controlled substances.
