Gulfport, Mississippi – A chilling tale of fentanyl trafficking unfolded in the Silver Slipper Casino, Hancock County, as law enforcement agents apprehended Yancy Johnson, a 45-year-old New Orleans man, in a sting operation.
Johnson, described as the mastermind behind a possible drug trafficking organization, was arrested on an unspecified date in 2023 when he arrived at the Silver Slipper Casino to carry out a drug transaction. Agents had received information that narcotics were to be delivered at the casino, and Johnson was caught red-handed.
According to the investigation, agents recovered one ounce of fentanyl from Johnson, which he intended to sell to an individual at the casino. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports that fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.
The DEA also warns that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. For more information on fentanyl, readers can visit https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl and https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl.
Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 9, 2024, and faces up to twenty years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Hancock County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
Defendant: Yancy Johnson
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance
City and State: Gulfport, Mississippi
Exact Date: 2023
Sentence or Outcome: Up to 20 years in prison, scheduled to be sentenced on October 9, 2024
Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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