Dover Man Sentenced to 40 Months for Firearms and Narcotics Violations
State of DE - A 24-year-old Dover man was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Hall in Wilmington, Delaware.
Deontray Watson was sentenced for drug distribution and firearm possession following multiple prior felony convictions.
According to court documents, Watson was released from state prison in late February of 2024. He had been serving time for a previous firearms conviction.
Less than a month later, information was received by law enforcement indicating that Watson was armed and distributing illegal narcotics.
Watson and an associate were arrested by law enforcement at a local gas station. A search of their vehicle was conducted by officers. Fentanyl, crack cocaine, and a loaded, stolen handgun were found inside the vehicle.
The firearm was located beneath the passenger seat on top of a wallet belonging to Watson.
Guilty pleas were ultimately entered by Watson for federal gun and drug offenses.
This recent conviction represents his fifth firearms-related conviction in the past ten years.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace stated, "Deontray Watson has been an armed danger to Delaware since he was a teenager. That is why, after I became the U.S. Attorney for our District, I continued personally handling this case. The just sentence imposed by Judge Hall today is more than double the longest sentence Deontray Watson has previously served. It is my sincere hope that this is the punishment that finally gets through to Watson. I extend my thanks to our law enforcement partners at the ATF, the Dover Police Department, and Delaware Probation and Parole, all of whom did terrific work investigating this case."
ATF Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer stated, "This sentence reflects ATF's commitment to targeting armed drug traffickers who fuel violence in our communities. By removing individuals who combine illegal narcotics distribution with firearms, we directly reduce the threat of violence in our community and show those who bring guns into our neighborhoods that they will be held accountable."
