Curon Cameron Cordon, Distribution of Protonitazene and Isotonitazene, West Virginia 2023

A Charleston man was sentenced to two years and three months in prison for his role in distributing synthetic opioids, including protonitazene and isotonitazene.

Curon Cameron Cordon, 24, of Charleston, was sentenced on January 1, 2024, for his involvement in the distribution of the synthetic opioids, which are potentially more dangerous and deadly than fentanyl.

According to court documents, on May 31, 2023, Cordon sold 13 pills to a confidential informant in Charleston. The pills were counterfeit pressed pills with the same markings as 30mg oxycodone pills. The West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory confirmed that the pills contained protonitazene and isotonitazene.

Law enforcement conducted seven additional controlled buys during which Cordon, and on one occasion Jesus Emmanuel Davis at Cordon’s direction, sold quantities of the same pills to a confidential informant. Cordon drove the confidential informant to Davis’ residence to obtain the pills during four of those transactions, including on May 31, 2023.

On June 8, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Davis’ residence. Officers seized 95 of the same pills sold to the confidential informant from the pocket of a jacket hanging inside Davis’ bedroom closet. Davis, 25, of Charleston, was sentenced on October 9, 2024, to three years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to the distribution of protonitazene and isotonitazene.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-50.

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