COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — A 30-year-old Allen man accused of being linked to a fentanyl overdose death was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in prison, officials said.
A Collin County jury found Denzel Johnson guilty of Possession with Intent to Deliver more than 4 grams, but less than 200 grams of fentanyl, prosecutors announced.
The Collin County District Attorney's Office said Johnson was stopped by McKinney police on Dec. 11, 2022, leaving the parking lot of a gas station.
Officers saw Johnson under the influence of a substance, and while speaking with him saw a gun in the driver's side floorboard. When they searched the vehicle, they found an envelope containing 60 blue pills, officials said. Forensic testing later revealed the pills contained fentanyl and were manufactured to look like Percocet pills, prosecutors said in a press release.
In addition to the fentanyl and firearm, officers also found $7,000 cash in possession of Johnson.
After finding Johnson guilty on the drug charge, during his punishment phase, the jury heard testimony from the Allen Police Department, who said they had arrested Johnson three times in 2022 for fentanyl-related offenses. Johnson posted bond after being arrested each time, Allen police said.
One of the three arrests was an October 2022 charge where where drugs that Johnson sold were linked by investigators to the death of a 27-year-old, Allen police said. The jury heard that Johnson continued to possess significant amounts of fentanyl with intent to sell it up until his arrest in December, according to Collin County prosecutors.
The jury also saw evidence from Johnson’s phone, dating back over a year, detailing him selling fentanyl to several other people in North Texas.
Johnson was then sentenced to 30 years in prison by the jury.
“Fentanyl dealers are dealing death," Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis said after the sentencing. "Johnson did that in October 2022, and despite the consequences, he didn’t stop. 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."
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