Atlanta Heroin Dealer Daniel Gets 5+ Years

ATLANTA – Shantuan Daniel, 25, of Atlanta, Georgia, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced for heroin trafficking and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Daniel received a five-year and three-month sentence from U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones, followed by three years of supervised release. The case is a key component of the U.S. Attorney’s District’s Drug Market Initiative (DMI), aimed at dismantling the heroin trade in Atlanta’s notoriously troubled English Avenue neighborhood.

The sentencing caps a year-long chase following a brazen attempt to evade police in June 2015. During the attempted arrest, Daniel reportedly leveled a loaded firearm at an Atlanta Police Department investigator before fleeing into a steep embankment. A massive manhunt involving the Georgia State Patrol, APD, and even the National Guard proved fruitless for nearly a year. Daniel was finally apprehended on April 7, 2016, on unrelated charges, while driving a vehicle containing more heroin and a stolen firearm.

According to court documents presented by U.S. Attorney John A. Horn, Daniel initially came to law enforcement’s attention in April 2015 during an undercover operation. While an undercover officer was attempting a drug deal with another target, Daniel approached and offered the officer heroin, even providing his contact information for future transactions. This unsolicited act immediately flagged him as a player in the English Avenue heroin market.

“Daniel threatened an Atlanta Police Department officer with a firearm prior to his arrest in this case,” Horn stated. “But Daniel was captured and brought to justice thanks to the diligence of APD officers and his federal sentence for distributing heroin in the neighborhood of English Avenue is an important win for this community.” ATF Special Agent in Charge Wayne Dixie echoed the sentiment, stating the sentence “is another reminder that ATF and our law enforcement partners will hold individuals accountable for any criminal behavior, especially that which threatens the safety of innocent civilians.”

The DMI program, launched in the summer of 2015, has already seen over 60 heroin traffickers face federal charges. Beyond prosecution, the U.S. Attorney’s office is also involved in diversion programs for lower-level dealers and community rebuilding initiatives in English Avenue. Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields lauded the partnership that led to Daniel’s conviction. “The sentencing of Mr. Daniel is proof that the DMI program is working to turn the English Avenue neighborhood in a new direction,” she said. “The Atlanta Police Department will continue to work with our local, state and federal partners to develop new programs and find innovative ways to fight crime.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dash A. Cooper, with investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Atlanta Police Department. Parents and children seeking information about the dangers of drugs are encouraged to visit www.justthinktwice.com. For media inquiries, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.

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