An Indianapolis man, already on community corrections for a previous drug conviction, has been handed a hefty federal prison sentence following his plea of guilty to charges of drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession. Clifton Withers, 49, has been sentenced to over 15 years—specifically 188 months in federal prison—as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In a case that spotlights the persistent plague of narcotics in our streets, Withers was convicted for his intent to distribute substantial amounts of fentanyl, along with his possession of an arsenal of illegal firearms. Shortly after being given a shot at rehabilitation via home detention, he was found renting storage units where, during a lawful search on May 19, 2020, authorities discovered a trove of drugs and weapons. The ATF led the investigation, which uncovered, amid other contraband, nine guns, some ammo, and over 300 grams of the deadly opioid fentanyl that he intended to spread through our city streets, as noted by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
United States Attorney Zachary A. Myers issued a strong statement on the case, emphasizing the danger this type of crime represents to our community. "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," Myers said, as mentioned in the same press release. The prosecutor also shed light on the tragic toll fentanyl has taken, cutting through all demographics and locales with the same grim reaper’s impartiality.
According to the Department of Justice release, a mere two milligrams of fentanyl, easily lost on the tip of a pencil, can prove fatal. This fact draws a stark picture of the opioid crisis, reminding the public of the "One Pill Can Kill" campaign highlighting the risk of street-bought pills containing fentanyl. Various phony pharmaceuticals, deceptively mimicking legitimate medications like Oxycodone and Xanax, are often riddled with this potent substance, contributing to its status as the leading cause of U.S. adult deaths.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Gibson and Corbin D. Houston were given nods by Myers for their roles in prosecuting a case that has likely saved lives by taking a repeat offender off the streets. Withers, who also had previous convictions for animal fighting and drug trafficking dating back decades, will face five years of supervised release following his nearly two decades behind bars, as determined by U.S. District Judge Matthew P. Brookman.
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