Five people have been sentenced in connection with a drug trafficking conspiracy involving fentanyl and heroin, according to an announcement from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The sentencing marks the conclusion of a multi-defendant case targeting opioid distribution through darknet markets.
The defendants—Kyon Watson, 39, of Kearney, New Jersey; Tony K. Oliver (also known as “LZ”), 33, of Paterson, New Jersey; Rosa E. Duran, 41, of Davenport, Florida; Dewayne A. Hutton, 25, of East Orange, New Jersey; and Janny Calderon-Rodriguez, 40, of Paterson—each pleaded guilty to charges related to distributing or possessing fentanyl and heroin with intent to distribute.
United States District Judge Julia K. Munley handed down sentences ranging from two years to more than twelve years in prison:
- Watson received 66 months’ imprisonment followed by four years of supervised release.
- Oliver was sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment and five years’ supervised release.
- Duran received a sentence of 24 months’ imprisonment and two years’ supervised release.
- Hutton was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment followed by three years' supervised release.
- Calderon-Rodriguez received a sentence of 24 months’ imprisonment with three years' supervised release.
The investigation was conducted jointly by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Authorities targeted a darknet vendor who sold opioids online in exchange for cryptocurrency and shipped them via U.S. Mail from Monroe County, Pennsylvania. Undercover agents began purchasing drugs from this vendor in October 2022; seized parcels were found to contain fentanyl.
In February 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the vendor’s residence and recovered cash, electronic devices, drug ledgers consistent with narcotics distribution activity dating back to summer 2021—and listing shipments mailed across nearly all U.S. states as well as overseas—cryptocurrency storage wallets, and controlled substances.
Investigators identified Tony K. Oliver as a source for these narcotics after reviewing almost one thousand entries in the ledgers documenting shipments nationwide. Although Oliver was arrested on January 16, 2023 in Paterson on an unrelated state matter, authorities say he continued coordinating drug operations through recorded prison communications with co-defendants Duran, Rodriguez, Hutton, and Watson.
According to prosecutors: "From prison, Oliver, Duran, Hutton, Watson, and Rodriguez conspired to continue drug sales and drug deliveries." They cited specific transactions: "February 24 [2023] (sale of 52 grams of fentanyl for $5,500), March 28 [2023] (sale of 50 grams for $5,200), May 16 [2023] (sale of 53 grams for $5,000), July 12 [2023] (sale of 50 grams for $5,000)," leading up to Oliver's arrest on September 26 when he was stopped in Pennsylvania with over one hundred grams of fentanyl shortly after being released from jail.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti prosecuted the case.
