VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – Two men were sentenced to prison on Wednesday for their role in a California-to-Virginia fentanyl network.
According to court documents, between Sept. 21, 2021 to March 27, 2023, 27-year-old Devin Joseph Stukes-McFarland used an online service to distribute fentanyl he claimed to be legitimate Percocet.
From 2021 to 2023, Stukes-McFarland received around 70 USPS parcels, 15 of which contained fentanyl pills, Xanax pills and ketamine from 27-year-old Brian Malik Williams, of Modesto, California. During this time, Williams, also known as “Matty Ruger” received the payments from Stukes-McFarland via Cash App, Apple Pay and other methods, documents said.
On Feb. 9, 2023, Virginia Beach officers, along with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), conducted a controlled purchase of 600 fentanyl pills from Stukes-McFarland, after Williams sent a parcel to Stukes-McFarland’s prior address on Feb. 2.
Officers conducted a second controlled purchase of approximately 400 fentanyl pills on March 2, 2023. On March 24, an undercover U.S. Postal Inspector delivered the package to Stukes-McFarland’s address. Immediately after, DEA, VBPD and USPS executed a search warrant and Stukes-McFarland was arrested.
During the search, officers were able to recover the parcel, which contained 4,260 fentanyl pills, 1,279 Xanax pills and other substances.
On Nov. 15, 2023, Stukes-McFarland pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison on July 11.
On March 12, Williams pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and aiding and abetting in the possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Nov. 27, 2024.
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