Johnston Man Sentenced For Trafficking Enough Fentanyl To Kill Millions Of People

JOHNSTON, RI — The leader of a fentanyl trafficking ring who prosecutors said distributed and possessed enough of the drug to create more than 2 million potentially lethal overdoses was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in federal prison.

Jonathan King, 33, of Johnston, admitted to a federal judge he arranged the sale and delivery of thousands of fentanyl-laced pill, some of which were delivered at his direction by his father and other family members. King was convicted on June 7, 2022, of conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

"The defendant’s drug distribution network put countless Rhode Island lives at risk for his own selfish gain," U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha said. "This prosecution, and today’s decade-long sentence should make one thing clear; in a time when overdose rates in our state remain at crisis levels, and every city and town in Rhode Island has seen opioid overdose deaths, we are determined to use every federal law enforcement tool at our disposal to stop combat significant opioid traffickers."

King was also ordered to forfeit money and luxury items derived from his drug trafficking activities, including a Jaguar XF and $6,750 in cash seized during his arrest on July 20, 2021. He must also serve five years of supervised release after his prison sentence.

"The state of Rhode Island is faced with a fentanyl crisis unlike ever before as deaths continue to soar," Acting DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau said. "Those responsible for distributing lethal drugs like fentanyl disguised in pills to the citizens of Rhode Island need to be held accountable for their actions. Today’s sentence holds Mr. King accountable for his crimes, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to put other callous distributors like him behind bars."

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