A Cincinnati man who hid fentanyl inside a teddy bear was sentenced to 19 years in prison, according to the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. 

In May of 2021, a federal grand jury returned a nine-count indictment against Bryce Montrea Hodges.

He was charged with five counts of illegal distribution of a controlled substance, two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and one count each of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug offense and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

 Hodges pleaded guilty to all counts charged in the indictment.

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The FBI, Warren County Drug Task Force, the DEA, and the Northeast Hamilton County Drug Task Force began investigating Hodges in Jan. of 2021. 

Investigators said agents made five buys of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Hodges over a matter of weeks. Hodges was arrested in March of 2021 after agents arranged the sixth purchase at a location on Springdale Pike. 

Agents found a stuffed teddy bear inside Hodges's car. Investigators said the teddy bear had a hidden compartment containing a plastic bag with about 72.5 grams of acetyl fentanyl.

When law enforcement officials searched Hodges’ apartment in Springdale, they discovered several people, including children, lived there.

Investigators said agents found a hidden compartment in a bathroom with a  loaded handgun, more fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia.

Agents also found a blender used to "cut" fentanyl when they searched a child’s bedroom closet, according to investigators. 

Hodges was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 19 years in prison.