Tevon Ngomba, Fentanyl and Gun Crimes, Massachusetts 2020

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Somerville Man Charged with Fentanyl and Gun Crimes

A Somerville man has pleaded guilty to distributing and possessing fentanyl and a loaded firearm as a convicted felon, authorities announced yesterday.

Tevon Ngomba, 29, was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2020 and pleaded guilty to one count of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, one count of possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on July 16, 2020, Ngomba distributed more than 40 grams of fentanyl to an individual in exchange for $1,800 in a recorded drug transaction. Just over a month later, on August 3, 2020, Ngomba purported to sell a loaded firearm to the same individual in exchange for $1,500 in another recorded transaction.

During the deal, Ngomba loaded the firearm and pretended to leave it under the driver’s seat before exiting the vehicle. However, Ngomba took both the $1,500 cash from the individual as well as the firearm he had pretended to sell. Ngomba did not realize that he accidentally left his cellphone in the individual’s vehicle, which he proceeded to chase down. Law enforcement immediately apprehended Ngomba, who was still clutching the $1,500 in his hand.

During a subsequent search of Ngomba’s vehicle, a loaded Ruger firearm with an obliterated serial number was found in the trunk, along with 16 grams of fentanyl and a second cellphone containing drug-related communications in the glove compartment. The cellphone Ngomba left in the individual’s car was found to contain images from the night before of Ngomba posing with what appeared to be the same firearm found in his vehicle.

The charge of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to life of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to life of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Ngomba’s sentencing is scheduled for February 1, 2023, before U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.