Jury Convicts Norfolk Man on Fentanyl Distribution Resulting in Overdose Death

NORFOLK, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Norfolk man today on charges of participating in a conspiracy to manufacture and distribute fentanyl, acetyl-fentanyl, and heroin in the Hampton Roads region. He was convicted of all five counts related to the drug conspiracy, including distribution of fentanyl resulting in a young woman’s death.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, between early 2017 and May 2020, Daniel Carrington (a.k.a. “Eastside” and “E”), 27, traveled to Baltimore, Maryland and purchased heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl-fentanyl to resell in Chesapeake and throughout the Hampton Roads region. The drugs distributed by Carrington resulted in the December 27, 2019 overdose death of a Chesapeake woman, identified in court documents as D.J. Although Carrington was aware of D.J.’s death, he continued to sell fentanyl until his arrest in May 2020.

Evidence introduced at trial included a video of the defendant laughing at his “tester” while he was falling out of consciousness because of a fentanyl dose, and proudly declaring how strong his fentanyl was. Other videos introduced to the jury included large quantities of cash, a firearm, and illegal narcotics. Text messages introduced at trial showed the defendant knew that he was distributing pure fentanyl and that he was aware of its lethal effects. A medical examiner testified that the levels of fentanyl in the victim’s body were five times the minimum level considered to be lethal by forensic pathologists.

Carrington faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and a maximum of life in prison when sentenced on October 29. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Kelvin L. Wright, Chief of the Chesapeake Police Department, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney accepted the verdict.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys John F. Butler and Joseph E. DePadilla are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-106.