Johnston Man Admits to Trafficking Thousands of Fentanyl Pills in Federal Court

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island – A Johnston man who arranged for the sale and delivery of thousands of fentanyl pills plead guilty today in federal court in Providence to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and to distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

Jonathan King, 31, admitted to the court that on May 25, 2021, he arranged to sell and have delivered 4,000 fentanyl pills to a person who arranged for the purchase while under surveillance by members of the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force. King sold the same individual an additional 1,000 fentanyl pills on two dates in June 2021.

King, detained in federal custody since his arrest on July 20, 2021, is scheduled to be sentenced on September 13, 2022. Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl are punishable by statutory penalties of a minimum of ten years of incarceration; a term of life with a mandatory minimum term of supervised release of five years; and a fine of $10,000,000.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Michael Seaman, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H Vilker.

King’s crimes involved the distribution of thousands of fentanyl pills in Rhode Island. His actions have put the lives of many at risk, and he will now face the consequences of his actions in federal court.

As the investigation and prosecution of fentanyl trafficking cases continue, the U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to holding individuals accountable for their role in the opioid epidemic.

In addition to the prison time and fine, King’s guilty plea also includes a term of supervised release. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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