Samuel Braxton, also known as "Fats," was sentenced on March 24 to more than 13 years in federal prison for orchestrating a large-scale drug trafficking operation while incarcerated at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey, according to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Braxton's case is significant because he managed the import and distribution of fentanyl, fentanyl analogue, and heroin throughout the Washington metropolitan area from inside a federal prison cell. The sentencing reflects ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat the opioid crisis and hold traffickers accountable.
According to court documents, Braxton led a conspiracy involving at least eight individuals between July 2021 and November 2023. Using a contraband cell phone from his housing unit, he connected foreign suppliers with co-conspirators Wayne Glymph and Ronnie Rogers. These associates received, processed, repackaged, and distributed the drugs across the region. Law enforcement placed wiretaps on Braxton's phone during their investigation and ultimately seized it.
U.S. Attorney Pirro said: “Braxton’s criminal history spans 36 years and includes four drug trafficking convictions. In his latest offense, he orchestrated an international narcotics pipeline—all while inside a federal prison cell. Now, Braxton will spend more than 13 additional years behind bars. Together with the DEA and our law enforcement partners, we will hold traffickers at every level of the production and distribution chain accountable.”
Authorities intercepted communications coordinating shipments of kilogram quantities of fentanyl and heroin to addresses in the Washington area. They seized over twelve kilograms of fentanyl, nearly two kilograms of p-Fluorofentanyl (a fentanyl analogue), more than two hundred grams of heroin, as well as parcels intercepted at shipping facilities traced through wiretap intercepts.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; FBI Washington Field Office; Alexandria Police Department; Metropolitan Police Department; Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives; Customs & Border Protection; several county police departments in Maryland and Virginia; as well as U.S. Attorneys’ Offices from Maryland, Texas, Tennessee.
Other co-conspirators have also been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing: Wayne Glymph received thirteen-and-a-half years in January; Michael Stewart received seventy-one months in December; Kevin Quattlebaum was sentenced to nearly twelve years last October; Ronnie Rogers faces up to life imprisonment when sentenced later this month.
