Four Delawareans indicted in federal drug-dealing case
Police chief: Enough fentanyl seized to potentially kill 400,000 state residents
A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment July 6, charging four Delaware men with conspiring to distribute cocaine, meth and fentanyl, along with various other drug and gun crimes.
You must be a member to read this story.
Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.
Already a member? Log in to continue. Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
Please log in to continue |
Four Delawareans indicted in federal drug-dealing case
Police chief: Enough fentanyl seized to potentially kill 400,000 state residents
By WILMINGTON — A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment July 6, charging four Delaware men with conspiring to distribute cocaine, meth and fentanyl, along with various other drug and gun crimes.
According to a Tuesday news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware, the amount of fentanyl seized in this case represents the largest known seizure of that drug in state history.
The U.S. attorney said Middletown resident Dwayne Fountain, 51, and Dover residents William Warren, 47; Martin Fountain, 47; and Durell Patton, 44, conspired to distribute drugs from January through May. Spokeswoman Kim Reeves said Dwayne also had an apartment in Bear.
Regarding the elder Fountain, the charges involved more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, more than 400 grams of fentanyl and more than 500 grams of meth, the office said.
The indictment also alleges that the four defendants possessed various drugs with intent to distribute. In addition, it charges Dwayne Fountain and Mr. Patton with possessing guns May 17, despite earlier convictions that prohibit them from doing so.
Overall, search warrants executed in the investigation led to the seizure of more than 7.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 10 kilograms of powder cocaine, over a kilogram of crack cocaine, about 280 grams of meth and 300 grams of xylazine, an additive commonly mixed with fentanyl, the release said.
Ms. Reeves said Thursday the men are currently detained.
If convicted, Dwayne Fountain faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. Mr. Warren is facing a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years, while the younger Fountain and Mr. Patton could receive up to 20 years in prison.
The indictment involved a long-term investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Delaware State Police and the Dover Police Department.
“The threat to public health and safety found in these cases is something that requires policing organizations to share information and resources, in order to protect the vulnerable,” Dover Police Chief Thomas A. Johnson Jr. said. “It bears repeating that the amount of illicit drugs seized in this operation was enough to potentially kill close to 400,000 people, or, stated another way, roughly 4 in 10 Delawareans.”
