Fentanyl dealer receives 30-year sentence following overdose-related conviction

District Attorney Greg Willis's office has successfully secured a 30-year prison sentence for Denzel Johnson, aged 30, from Allen, Texas. Johnson was found guilty by a jury of possessing with intent to deliver more than 4 grams but less than 200 grams of fentanyl.

The incident leading to Johnson's conviction occurred on December 11, 2022, when McKinney Police Department officers responded to a disturbance at a gas station. Officers found Johnson attempting to leave the parking lot in his vehicle and noticed he appeared under the influence. During their interaction with him, they observed a firearm on the driver's side floorboard. A subsequent search revealed an envelope containing 60 blue pills that forensic testing confirmed contained fentanyl and were made to resemble Percocet pills. Additionally, officers discovered over $7,000 in cash on Johnson.

During the trial's punishment phase, it was revealed that the Allen Police Department had arrested Johnson three times in 2022 for offenses related to fentanyl. Despite these arrests, he managed to post bond shortly after each one. Notably, one of these charges from October 2022 involved drugs sold by Johnson being linked to the death of a 27-year-old individual. The jury heard evidence indicating that Johnson continued selling significant amounts of fentanyl up until his December arrest. Further evidence from Johnson's phone showed his involvement in selling fentanyl to multiple individuals across North Texas.

The jury ultimately sentenced Johnson to 30 years in prison.

"Fentanyl dealers are dealing death. Johnson did that in October 2022, and despite the consequences, he didn’t stop," said Willis following the sentencing. "Thankfully, law enforcement stepped in and likely saved another life by arresting him again in December. My office will keep pushing for tough prison sentences for anyone selling fentanyl."

Assistant Criminal District Attorney Ashlyn Scott and Ellie Gonzalez prosecuted the case with support from District Attorney Investigator Ryan Harvey.