Fentanyl Kingpin

⏱ 2 min read

Qureem Overton, a 43-year-old resident of Butler, Pennsylvania, orchestrated a multi-year pipeline of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine from Philadelphia to Butler, recruiting local dealers to work for him. Between January 2017 and June 2020, Overton’s operation distributed at least 40 grams of fentanyl and quantities of heroin and cocaine. Overton’s motivation was profit, and his methods were calculating, using others to carry out his deals and attempting to hide behind them.

Overton’s past was marked by violence and crime, with prior convictions for aggravated assault, robbery, and drug trafficking. After his release from state prison, he moved to Butler and quickly established himself as a major player in the local drug trade. His operation was eventually dismantled by a joint investigation involving the Pennsylvania State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Butler County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force.

On October 2024, a federal jury convicted Overton of conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. United States District Judge Robert J. Colville sentenced Overton to 20 years in federal prison, followed by eight years of supervised release. The sentence reflects the severity of Overton’s crimes and the harm caused by his operation.

The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Craig W. Haller and Jacqueline C. Brown. United States Attorney Troy Rivetti commended the investigative agencies for their work in bringing Overton to justice.