Federal Grand Jury Indicts Michigan Resident for Fentanyl Possession With Intent to Distribute

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On December 4, 2018, a federal grand jury in Knoxville returned a one-count indictment against D’Marko Vernell King, 30, of Detroit, Michigan.  This case has not yet been set for trial. 

The indictment, on file with the U.S. District Court, alleges that King possessed, with intent to distribute, four hundred (400) grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, in the Eastern District of Tennessee.

If convicted of the possession with intent to distribute charge, King faces a minimum mandatory term of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $10,000,000, any applicable forfeiture, and a $100 special assessment.                                                               

The investigation and seizure of evidence was conducted by the Narcotics Unit of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.  Leading up to the indictment, they partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and U.S. Marshals Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent N. Jones will represent the United States.  

Today, the United States faces an unprecedented drug epidemic.  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that more than 70,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2017.  Many of these deaths are attributed to the increased abuse of potent and dangerous synthetic opioids like fentanyl.  These charges are the result of investigations supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) under the Attorney General-led Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS)/Special Operations Division (SOD) Project Clean Sweep.  This initiative seeks to reduce the supply of synthetic opioids in “hot spot” areas previously identified by the Attorney General of the United States, thereby reducing drug overdoses and drug overdose deaths, and identify wholesale distribution networks and sources of supply operating nationally and internationally. Knox County, Tennessee, has been designated as one of those hot spots.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until his or her guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

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