Will Catis, Protonitazene Trafficking, Florida 2024

Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Deadly Synthetic Opioid

In a shocking turn of events, Will Catis, 42, of Deerfield Beach, Florida, has pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a synthetic opioid, protonitazene. The deadly substance, equally as potent as fentanyl, has claimed numerous lives in the United States and Mexico.

According to court documents, Catis obtained protonitazene from Jiangsu Bangdeya New Material Technology Co. LTD. (Bangdeya), a Chinese chemical company. On October 22, 2022, postal inspectors seized a parcel addressed to Catis, which was sent from Bangdeya. The parcel contained 172.3 grams of protonitazene.

Further investigation revealed that Catis was involved in a large-scale drug trafficking operation. A search of his electronic media found videos reflecting a kilogram press, firearms, and large sums of U.S. currency. Screenshots and photos also revealed Catis’ involvement in drug trafficking, including chats with Chinese chemical company sales representatives and bags filled with a powdery substance similar to the seized protonitazene.

After Catis’ arrest, a search of his residence and storage unit revealed a staggering amount of illicit substances. The following substances were discovered: 258.7 grams of a mixture of bromazolam, protonitazene, metonitazene, and fentanyl; 1060.1 grams of a mixture of metonitazene, protonitazene, fentanyl, and lidocaine; 4654 grams of a mixture of n-propylbutylone, eutylone, fentanyl, heroin, metonitazene, protonitazene, p-fluorofentanyl, lidocaine, quinine, and caffeine; 726.5 grams of 3,4-Methylenedioxy-α-cyclohexylaminopropiophenone; 3.45 grams of protonitazene; 28.77 grams of a mixture of protonitazene and cocaine; 361.9 grams of a mixture N-Ethylpentylone, eutylone, metonitazene, protonitazene, fentanyl, heroin, α-Pyrrolidino-2-phenylacetophenone, p-Fluorofentanyl, quinine, lidocaine, and caffeine; 1389.6 grams of a mixture of N-Ethylpentylone, metonitazene, eutylone, heroin, α-Pyrrolidino-2-phenylacetophenone, ANPP, quinine, caffeine, and lidocaine; 571.6 grams of protonitazene; 27.8 grams of metonitazene; 28 grams of protonitazene; 448.4 grams of bromazolam; and 176 grams of a mixture of N-Propylbutylone, eutylone, metonitazene, fentanyl, protonitazene, bromazolam, heroin, lidocaine, quinine, and caffeine.

Catis is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11, 2024, at noon and faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the DEA, and other law enforcement agencies investigated this case. The DEA Miami Field Division Counternarcotic Cyber Investigations Task Force, HSI Miami, USPIS-Miami, and IRS-CI Miami, Miami Field Office, worked together to bring Catis to justice.

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