A Brooklyn, Maryland man pled guilty on Mar. 9 in federal court to charges related to drug trafficking and firearm offenses.
Sadontae Barnett, age 22, admitted to possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with Christopher R. Heck, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland, and Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Secretary of State Police for the Maryland State Police.
According to the plea agreement, law enforcement conducted a controlled delivery of a package containing narcotics to Barnett’s residence on February 22, 2024. The day before the delivery, authorities intercepted the package and found it contained about 40 grams of fentanyl pills. After receiving the package, Barnett placed it in a backpack and armed himself with a Glock Model 36 .45 caliber handgun. When officers attempted to stop him, Barnett fled and discarded both the backpack and firearm before being apprehended.
Barnett faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and could receive up to life imprisonment. His sentencing date has not yet been set.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative aimed at combating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts among federal agencies.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI and MSP for their work on this investigation and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stanton Lawyer and Jonathan Tsuei for prosecuting the case.
