U.D. man gets state time in drugs and gun case
MEDIA COURTHOUSE >> An Upper Darby man was sentenced Friday to serve six to
12 years in state prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking charges, the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office announced.
Charges against Donte T. Williams, 31, of the 700 block of Burmont Road in the township’s Drexel Hill section, capped an investigation by the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division and Upper Darby police that uncovered about
13 pounds of marijuana, more than 1,000 prescription pills including Percocet, Adderall, Xanax and various other controlled substances, as well as an illegal firearm.
“We are currently in the midst of an opioid epidemic. Every day, our loved ones are suffering and dying because of the deadly, addictive drugs being sold by individuals like Mr. Williams who have no regard for their community,” District Attorney Katayoun M. Copeland said. “In this case, due to the excellent investigative work of CID Detective Steven Bannar and Officer John News of the Upper Darby Township Police Department, with assistance from our Delaware County Narcotics Task Force, this drug dealer was apprehended. I would like to also commend Assistant District Attorney Meaghan Wagner who prosecuted this case to ensure Mr. Williams can no longer profit from the misfortunates of others.”
Williams pleaded guilty on Nov. 26, 2018, to possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance and convicted felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to the incarceration, he was sentenced before Delaware County Common Pleas Court Judge John P. Capuzzi, Sr. to serve five years on probation. He was also ordered to forfeit the firearm and $66,619 to the commonwealth.
It was back on April 26, 2018, when Bannar, News, other officers with the Upper Darby Police Department, along with members of the Delaware County Narcotics Task Force executed a search warrant at Williams’ Burmont Road residence. When police approached the property, Williams was exercising in the enclosed courtyard area. Police detained Williams, who waived his Miranda Rights and spoke to police, indicating that there was “a lot of weed” in the apartment, in addition to a gun and $10,000 in cash. Inside the apartment, police located a stolen .38 special revolver with a taped grip loaded with five .38- caliber bullets, and approximately 13 pounds of marijuana that was contained in a large plastic bin as well as in smaller bags packaged to be sold.
As the search continued, police located 30 different prescription bottles and more than 1,000 pills including Percocet, Adderall, Xanax and various other controlled substances. Police also located a black digital scale, empty glass vials, bagging materials and a large vacuum sealer along with plastic bags. Police seized a dark blue Mercedes Benz C300 owned by the defendant.
A check of Williams’ background revealed he had been previously convicted of a felony drug trafficking offense and a firearm offense, making him ineligible to legally possess a firearm.