Summit County drug agents arrested two Canton residents Thursday after they tried to sell a large amount of methamphetamine to undercover officers, authorities said.
Patricia Powers, 43, and Eric Stafford, 32, were charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, first-degree felonies punishable by up to 11 years in prison. Additional charges could be filed.
According to sheriff’s reports, Powers and Stafford arranged a meeting with undercover officers at a restaurant in Green.
About 4:30 p.m., the two attempted to sell the officers 3 ounces of meth, authorities said.
“That’s quite a bit,” said sheriff’s Inspector Bill Holland, adding that 3 ounces would be worth thousands of dollars in illicit sales.
Holland said meth users normally buy the drug in grams, while traffickers typically buy it in ounces. An ounce weighs about 28 grams.
The investigation into Powers and Stafford began when investigators heard reports of a meth sales network in Stark and Summit counties.
The Summit County Drug Unit, which made the arrests, is a combination of efforts from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, county prosecutor’s office, FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency, Ohio State Highway Patrol and police from Tallmadge, Barberton, Copley, Stow, New Franklin, Reminderville, Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Springfield and the University of Akron.
Nick Glunt can be reached at 330-996-3565 or nglunt@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickGluntABJ.