Two Michigan residents indicted for trafficking Fentanyl

Nita Johnson, The Sentinel Echo, London, Ky.
·1 min read

Apr. 25—The flow of illegal drugs into Laurel County has always been a problem for law enforcement, but two people from Michigan are now facing felony charges after being found with a quantity of drugs earlier this year.

A Laurel grand jury returned a three-count indictment against 29-year-old Demarcus Dean Johnson of Flint, Michigan. He is charged with trafficking in controlled substance (methamphetamine), importing Carfentanil, Fentanyl or Fentanyl derivatives and possession of drug paraphernalia on Feb. 18.

The charges evolved through a tip to the Laurel County Sheriff's Office that a large amount of Fentanyl was being delivered in the Corbin area. That spurred the Laurel County Drug Interdiction Task Force to action, with Johnson being stopped on West Cumberland Gap Parkway. Johnson was found in possession of 92 grams of methamphetamine and 29 grams of Fentanyl.

He was arrested and has remained incarcerated at the Laurel County Correctional Center under $50,000 cash bond. He will appear for a pretrial conference in Laurel Circuit Court on May 20.

In a separate case, Deandre Lerrell Chappell Jr., 25, of Detroit, Michigan, was indicted for importing Carfentanil, Fentanyl or Fentanyl derivatives and trafficking in Fentanyl on Mar. 2.

His arrest came after a tip to law enforcement that a large shipment of Fentanyl was to be delivered in London. With that information, a site was established for the delivery and Chappell was found to have 104 grams of Fentanyl in his possession.

He is held under $50,000 cash bond and set for a hearing in Laurel Circuit Court on June 19.

An indictment is an accusation only and does not imply guilt or innocence. Persons are considered innocent until proven guilty under state and federal law.