NORFOLK, VA – Eugene Tillery, 30, of Suffolk, Virginia, is headed to federal prison for five years after being convicted of peddling fentanyl, a synthetic opioid fueling the nation’s overdose crisis. The sentence, handed down yesterday by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen, reflects the seriousness of his crimes and the devastation wrought by fentanyl on communities across the country.
Tillery pleaded guilty on July 14, 2016, but the investigation revealed a far more extensive operation than initially suspected. Between November and December 2016, a joint operation between the Suffolk Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) secured seven controlled purchases of fentanyl directly from Tillery. The total haul: a staggering 26 grams of the potent drug – enough to kill thousands.
Court documents paint a grim picture of Tillery’s role in the local drug trade. Fentanyl, already 100 times more powerful than heroin, is routinely mixed with the latter, drastically increasing the risk of overdose. This practice is a primary driver behind the skyrocketing number of deaths linked to heroin use nationwide. But Tillery’s operation didn’t stop at fentanyl. Authorities also uncovered evidence indicating he was a major supplier of heroin in Suffolk, responsible for distributing over two kilograms of the drug throughout 2015.
“This sentence sends a clear message: those who profit from the distribution of fentanyl will be held accountable for the destruction they cause,” stated Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, in a press release. Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge for the DEA’s Washington Field Division, and Suffolk Police Chief Thomas E. Bennett, joined Boente in announcing the sentencing. The collaborative effort underscores the commitment of federal and local law enforcement to dismantling drug trafficking networks.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William D. Muhr skillfully prosecuted the case, building a solid case based on the evidence gathered through the controlled purchases and broader investigation. The case highlights the ongoing struggle to stem the tide of fentanyl flooding into the United States, and the relentless work of law enforcement to protect communities from its deadly consequences.
Details of the case, including court documents, can be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia website and through the PACER system under Case No. 2:16-cr-77. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this and other critical cases impacting the safety and security of our nation.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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