Multiple US Men Sentenced in Fentanyl, Methamphetamine Trafficking Cases

Multiple recent cases highlight ongoing federal efforts to combat drug trafficking involving methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other substances across various states. Marcel Vines pleaded guilty to conspiring to smuggle fentanyl and buprenorphine into a D.C. jail with the help of Department of Corrections employees, while serving life sentences for a double murder. Brandon Bustle from Kentucky received a 13-year sentence for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and violating supervised release conditions, with co-conspirators also receiving significant prison terms. In West Virginia, Daviontae Lately of Detroit pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl, with a sentencing date set for November 2025, following seizures of fentanyl, crack cocaine, and cash. Additionally, Mark Lawrence Lowe, also from Detroit, was sentenced to 18 months in prison plus supervised release for his role in a drug trafficking organization distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl in West Virginia; his co-conspirators have also been sentenced or await trial. These cases reflect coordinated law enforcement efforts targeting drug distribution networks spanning multiple states, often involving interstate transport and collaboration among defendants.