TEXARKANA, Texas -- A man accused of possessing more than 5,000 counterfeit painkillers containing fentanyl was denied bond Tuesday in federal court in Texarkana.
Darell Montrell Trotter, 32, was taken into federal custody Feb. 23 on charges of possession of more than 400 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. He appeared with Arlington, Texas, lawyer Gerald Smith for a detention hearing Tuesday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven in Texarkana's downtown federal building.
Josiah Lemelin, a DEA drug task force officer, testified that Trotter's home was under surveillance for more than a month when a knock-and-announce search warrant was executed about 6 a.m. Dec. 14. Under questioning by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Hornok, Lemelin said Trotter told agents they could find drugs under the kitchen sink and let them know there was a 12-gauge shotgun stashed behind a television stand.
Lemelin testified that there have been eight fentanyl overdose deaths in the Texarkana area in the last 12 months and that hospitals in the region treated 40 to 60 people per month who have overdosed on the drug in the same time period.
"We prevented more dead bodies by seizing the fentanyl that day," Lemelin said. "Fentanyl pills are the most dangerous. They're the ones causing all the deaths around the country right now."
Lemelin testified that the pills seized from beneath Trotter's kitchen sink were colored blue and stamped to look like genuine pharmaceutical oxycodone pills.
Oxycodone is an opioid used to treat pain. Fentanyl is more powerful than morphine and typically used in surgical settings, or to treat pain in the terminally ill.
Lemelin testified that pharmaceutically produced pills contain a precise amount of a drug, while counterfeits contain varying amounts. According to the DEA's website, four out of every 10 pills with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose.
"They can't know how much fentanyl is in the pills they're selling," Lemelin said. "They all look the same."
Lemelin also noted when a person is prescribed medication, his or her doctor considers age, weight, gender and other factors in determining the appropriate dose.
Roughly 30 supporters of Trotter filled the small courtroom. At the beginning of the hearing, Smith asked all willing to act as a third-party custodian for Trotter to raise their hands and all of the supporters did. A third-party custodian is typically someone who lives with a defendant, agrees to notify the court of any violations of release conditions and will make sure the person makes their court appearances.
Under questioning by Smith, Trotter's girlfriend, his brother and a man who pays him to shoe horses testified on his behalf. Smith argued Trotter is not a flight risk or a violent person and that three firearms seized in December don't belong to Trotter and were not used during any alleged drug deals.
Hornok noted Trotter's prior conviction in Arkansas for evading arrest, which involved car speeds of more than 100 miles per hour and a domestic violence arrest report which Trotter's girlfriend claimed included false allegations of punching and choking.
Hornok urged Craven to keep Trotter behind bars while his case is pending.
"The next pill he sells could kill somebody," Hornok argued. "He's selling these out the front door to the people of Texarkana."
Craven thanked the supporters who attended the hearing, describing Trotter as "very fortunate" and "very blessed" to have them. The judge cited Trotter's history of recklessness, violence and substance abuse coupled with the nature of the allegations when announcing her decision to detain him.
Trotter faces up to life in prison if convicted of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute more than 400 grams. If found guilty of carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, he faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of life. Any term imposed must be served consecutively to any sentence for the underlying offense.
This combination photo provided by the Drug Enforcement Agency shows authentic oxycodone M30 tablets, top, and counterfeit oxycodone M30 tablets containing fentanyl, bottom. (Photo by the DEA)