Shelvin Jovan Barnes, a 33-year-old resident of Washington D.C., has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute illegal designer drugs. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., and Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Heck of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Washington Division.
Barnes, also known as "Nuke," pleaded guilty on December 6, 2024, to charges including possession with intent to distribute ADB-BUTINACA, attempted possession with intent to distribute N,N-dimethylpentylone, and unlawful possession of a firearm due to an intrafamily offense. U.S. District Court Judge Loren L. AliKhan also ordered Barnes to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.
The investigation into Barnes began as part of a broader inquiry into narcotics and precursor chemicals shipped from China. On May 8, 2024, HSI intercepted a package addressed to the 300 block of L Street Southeast containing 122 grams of N,N-dimethylpentylone or "dipentylone," known as "Boot." Law enforcement replaced the dipentylone with a sham substance before delivering it undercover to Barnes' residence.
Upon executing a search warrant at Barnes' home, law enforcement found several bags containing powder and rock-like substances. Some bags were marked "Booka," which Barnes admitted was similar to the synthetic drug "K2." Lab tests revealed approximately 1,195 grams of ADB-BUTINACA stored in zip-lock bags labeled with the weight.
In addition to the drugs, agents recovered items linked to drug manufacturing such as a digital scale, industrial gas masks, rubber gloves, tea leaves weighing 35 pounds, and acetone totaling 16 gallons. They also discovered a loaded Beretta 9mm pistol under Barnes' mattress along with more powder and rock-like mixtures. At his arrest time, Barnes was on probation for misdemeanor assault and had been prohibited from possessing firearms weeks earlier.
This case was investigated by ICE Homeland Security Investigations Washington D.C.'s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) team and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Iris McCranie and Trial Attorney Ernesto Alvarado.
