Cincinnati, Ohio – A Cincinnati man who was already on supervised release for drug and firearm offenses has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison after committing new narcotics crimes. Vernon Powell, 44, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court following his conviction for possessing and intending to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.
Mailing Cocaine and Stashing Drugs and Cash
According to court documents, Powell was involved in trafficking large quantities of narcotics. Authorities discovered that in June 2023, Powell mailed a kilogram of cocaine from Houston to Cincinnati, an operation that led investigators to dig deeper into his activities.
By October 2023, law enforcement officials executed search warrants at two properties Powell used—one on Compton Road and another on Bassett Road. The searches resulted in the seizure of cocaine, fentanyl, multiple firearms, and more than $28,000 in cash.
Supervised Release Violations and Failed Plea for Early Termination
At the time of his new offenses, Powell was already on supervised release after serving 15 years in prison for previous drug and firearm convictions. In September 2023, just one month before investigators raided his properties, Powell petitioned the court for an early termination of his supervised release.
In his request, Powell argued that the “barriers of supervision” were preventing him from achieving success and that he wanted the opportunity to “excel as he knows he is capable.” However, his involvement in drug trafficking soon came to light, leading to new charges and another lengthy prison sentence.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Powell pleaded guilty in October 2024 to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. His 10-year federal prison sentence was handed down today by U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan A. Keefe and Timothy D. Oakley. The sentencing was announced by Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, alongside Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey and other members of the Regional Enforcement Narcotics Unit.
Powell’s case serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of violating supervised release and continuing criminal activities while under federal monitoring.
