Brandon O. Sanders, Fentanyl Trafficking, Indiana 2023

FORT WAYNE – A Fort Wayne man has been sentenced to 180 months in prison for distributing and possessing fentanyl and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson, Brandon O. Sanders, 29 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to the charges.

The investigation revealed that between August and September 2023, Sanders sold over 4,000 fentanyl pills on four separate occasions. Additionally, a search of his residence uncovered evidence of drug trafficking, a loaded firearm, and $28,000.

Sanders has previous convictions for felony distribution of a controlled substance and a handgun offense, which prohibit him from possessing the firearm in this case.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve.

The defendant, Brandon O. Sanders, was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release. The charges against him include distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

This case is a reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat the opioid epidemic and reduce violent crime in our communities. The sentence handed down to Brandon O. Sanders serves as a warning to those who engage in such activities.