Detroit Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Role in Interstate Drug Trafficking Operation Involving Large Quantities of Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Detroit, Michigan, has been sentenced in federal court to 60 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction of violating federal narcotics and firearm laws as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on Christopher Barton, 26, who previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine between August 2023 and August 2024, and possessing a firearm after a felony conviction.

According to information presented to the Court, Barton was part of a drug trafficking conspiracy that was based in Detroit and in New Castle, Pennsylvania. Barton participated in the conspiracy by retailing controlled substances to customers in the New Castle area. On February 7, 2024, a search warrant was served at a New Castle location from which members of the conspiracy were dealing drugs. Barton was present when the search warrant was executed, with law enforcement also seizing two pistols. Barton had prior felony convictions that prohibited him from lawfully possessing a firearm or ammunition.

Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.

United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Michigan State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Mercer County Drug Task Force, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and Douglas County (Nebraska) Sheriff's Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Barton.

This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations that have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.