INDIANAPOLIS — A 49-year-old Indianapolis man was sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for fentanyl trafficking and possessing an "arsenal" of guns.
Clifton Withers pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Withers was sentenced and placed on home detention and monitoring on Jan. 7, 2020 following a conviction for dealing in a narcotic drug.
While serving his community corrections sentence, the U.S. Department of Justice said Withers rented two storage units in Indianapolis. Authorities said officers then searched those storage units on May, 19, 2020 and found 250 grams of fentanyl; nine guns; multiple digital scales; a plastic bottle of lactose, a known drug cutting agent; and a slew of other items.
Due to being a convicted felon, Withers is prohibited from ever legally possessing a gun.
Authorities searched Withers' vehicle and found an additional 55 grams of fentanyl that he intended to distribute and a metal press with heroin residue. Officers also recovered a 9mm handgun.
The DOJ said Withers has an "extensive criminal record," including four felony drug trafficking convictions dating back to 1997, and one felony conviction for promoting animal fighting.
“This defendant is a lifelong drug dealer who has failed to rehabilitate despite given numerous chances to do so. After receiving a Community Corrections sentence armed drug trafficking, he immediately returned to trafficking large quantities of fentanyl and illegally possessing a silencer and an arsenal of firearms,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Fentanyl poisoning takes lives and devastates families in all zip codes and walks of life. Traffickers pose even more danger to our communities when they are heavily armed.”
