Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of West Virginia Dateline: Charleston, West Virginia Date: 14 July 2023 Subjects: American Government , Crime Topic: Interstate Highway System

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kentrell Dupri McKenzie, 22, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced yesterday to four years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 9, 2022, McKenzie was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by a law enforcement officer on Interstate 77 in Jackson County. The officer detected the odor of marijuana, prompting a search of the vehicle. Officers found approximately 373 grams of methamphetamine in a sealed bag hidden inside the gear shift area. McKenzie admitted to possessing the methamphetamine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Ripley Police Department.

Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Blackwell and Ryan A. Keefe prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-30.

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Updated July 14, 2023