A federal jury has convicted Jawayne Watkins, 32, of Buffalo, N.Y., of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl, possessing with intent to distribute, and distributing heroin and 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl, causing serious bodily injury to, and the death of an individual.
Watkins, also known as Weezy, faces a mandatory penalty of life in prison for his crimes.
According to U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., Watkins is the second defendant to be convicted at trial for distributing deadly opiates that resulted in the death of another individual. Both Watkins and his predecessor, Dontrell Wise, were convicted at trial and face mandatory life sentences.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Adler and Meghan E. Leydecker handled the prosecution of the case, which involved the sale of heroin and 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl, a rare and extremely dangerous fentanyl analogue.
Homeland Security Investigations made controlled purchases from Watkins on at least two occasions in July 2017 and November 9, 2017. The substances purchased from Watkins later tested positive for heroin and 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl.
On November 10, 2017, an individual identified as A.C. died after taking a substance received from Watkins. Toxicology reports following the victim’s death indicated she had heroin and 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl in her system.
Watkins was on New York State parole and living in a halfway house at the time of his arrest in November 2017. The investigation was conducted by the Buffalo Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 29, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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