A Florida man pled guilty Friday to participating in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a synthetic opioid, protonitazene, from China.
Will Catis, Sr. (Catis), 42, of Deerfield Beach, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal.
Protonitazene is a synthetic opioid that is equally as potent, if not more potent, than fentanyl.
As part of an investigation into Chinese chemical companies that were sending synthetic opioids, such as protonitazene, to the U.S. and Mexico, several U.S.-based drug traffickers were identified.
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One of those individuals was Catis.
Catis was obtaining protonitazene and metonitazene from Jiangsu Bangdeya New Material Technology Co. LTD. (“Bangdeya”).
On October 22, 2022, Postal Inspectors seized a parcel addressed to “Will Catis.” This parcel was sent from Bangdeya.
On October 28, 2022, a search warrant was obtained for the parcel. The search revealed a plastic bag of yellowish powder determined to be 172.3 grams of protonitazene.
A search warrant was obtained for the Catis’ electronic media which was found to contain videos reflecting a kilogram press, firearms, and large sums of U.S. currency.
Additionally, there were screenshots and photos reflecting Catis’ drug trafficking, including chats with Chinese chemical company sales representatives, bags filled with a powdery substance that were similar to the seized protonitazene, and screenshots of advertisements from Chinese chemical companies selling protonitazene.
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After Catis’ arrest and pursuant to searches of his residence and storage unit, the following substances were discovered:
- 258.7 grams of a mixture of bromazolam, protonitazene, metonitazene, and fentanyl
- 1060.1 grams of a mixture of metonitazene, protonitazene, fentanyl, and lidocaine
- 4654 grams of a mixture of n-propylbutylone, eutylone, fentanyl, heroin, metonitazene, protonitazene, p-fluorofentanyl, lidocaine, quinine, and caffeine
- 726.5 grams of 3,4-Methylenedioxy-α-cyclohexylaminopropiophenone;
- 3.45 grams of protonitazene
- 28.77 grams of a mixture of protonitazene and cocaine
- 361.9 grams of a mixture N-Ethylpentylone, eutylone, metonitazene, protonitazene, fentanyl, heroin, α-Pyrrolidino-2-phenylacetophenone, p-Fluorofentanyl, quinine, lidocaine, and caffeine
- 1389.6 grams of a mixture of N-Ethylpentylone, metonitazene, eutylone, heroin, α-Pyrrolidino-2-phenylacetophenone, ANPP, quinine, caffeine, and lidocaine
- 571.6 grams of protonitazene
- 27.8 grams of metonitazene
- 28 grams of protonitazene
- 448.4 grams of bromazolam
- 176 grams of a mixture of N-Propylbutylone, eutylone, metonitazene, fentanyl, protonitazene, bromazolam, heroin, lidocaine, quinine, and caffeine.
Catis’ sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 11, 2024, at noon. He faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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