Sacramento Man Charged with Distribution of Fentanyl and Illegal Possession of a Gun

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment Thursday against Tio Sessoms, 43, of Sacramento, charging him with distribution of fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on Aug. 28, 2023, Sessoms sold approximately a half kilogram of fentanyl to law enforcement in downtown Sacramento. In September 2023, Sessoms was in possession of two firearms while being a felon convicted of voluntary manslaughter and first-degree burglary.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis Klein is prosecuting the case.

If convicted of distribution of fentanyl, Sessoms faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a $5 million fine. If convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, Sessoms faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.