Clifton Withers, 49, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 188 months (over 15 years) in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Withers pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Despite being on community corrections for a previous drug trafficking conviction, Withers continued to engage in illegal activities. He was found in possession of over 300 grams of fentanyl intended for distribution, along with an arsenal of nine firearms, including a silencer.
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Withers has an extensive criminal history, including four felony drug trafficking convictions dating back to 1997 and a conviction for promoting animal fighting. This sentencing demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement to hold repeat offenders accountable for their actions, especially in cases involving dangerous substances like fentanyl.
“This defendant is a lifelong drug dealer who has failed to rehabilitate despite given numerous chances to do so. After receiving a Community Corrections sentence armed drug trafficking, he immediately returned to trafficking large quantities of fentanyl and illegally possessing a silencer and an arsenal of firearms,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Fentanyl poisoning takes lives and devastates families in all zip codes and walks of life. Traffickers pose even more danger to our communities when they are heavily armed. Thanks to the outstanding work of our partners at the ATF and our federal prosecutors, the defendant’s career of armed drug trafficking has been halted for many years to come.”
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The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II.
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