California Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Narcotics Conspiracy Involving 300 Pounds of Methamphetamine (DOJ)

CINCINNATI - A Los Angeles man admitted in federal court here today that he took part in a narcotics conspiracy involving more than 300 pounds of methamphetamine shipped to the greater Cincinnati area in 10 pallets of paver stones.

Jontah Jackson, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, in January 2025, DEA agents in Cincinnati received intelligence regarding a potential shipment of methamphetamine awaiting delivery in West Chester.

Law enforcement conducted surveillance of the shipment and observed Jackson parked in the vicinity and observing the delivery as others loaded up the pallets onto a box truck and a flatbed trailer.

When all the vehicles began to depart the delivery area, law enforcement converged on the vehicles. Jackson fled from the police, collided with a law enforcement vehicle, crashed into a tree line and fled on foot before being apprehended on a nearby highway.

Law enforcement discovered fake paver stones of methamphetamine interspersed among real paver stones.

Jackson and co-defendant Ramiro Mendoza, 30, of Santa Maria, California, were indicted by a grand jury in April 2025.

Jackson faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit; Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Charles A. Jones; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Middletown Police Chief Earl Nelson announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe is representing the United States in this case.

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