Bob Bennett, 35, was sentenced on Thursday in Wilmington, DE, to 66 months incarceration for distributing heroin that was stored in 3,250 bags stamped with the name “Donald Trump” on them and for gun possession. Bennett, of Seaford, DE, will serve his sentence in federal prison.
In November 2016, four days prior to the presidential election, the ATF, along with the Seaford Police Department, executed a warrant and searched Bennett’s home and his car. Authorities discovered two safes, which stored thousands of individual bags of heroin.
In the same room as the safes, enforcement authorities found a loaded .40-caliber Smith and Wesson pistol.
Federal court records reflect that Bennett told an enforcement agent that he kept the gun to stave off robbery, which accompanies dealing heroin.
Additionally, authorities also discovered $2,418 cash and even more heroin – 109 bags branded as “Ferrari” or as “Donald Trump.” According to law enforcement, heroin is placed in small bags and often stamped with various logos and symbols, denoting a particular dealer’s product, the Delmarva Daily Times noted.
Heroin dealer not new to criminal justice system
Bennett pled guilty in May 2016 to possession of a firearm to further a drug trafficking crime and possession of heroin with the intent to distribute the drug. Assistant United States Attorneys Lesley F.
Wolk and Alexander S. Mackler prosecuted the case.
Acting United States Attorney David C. Weiss said the prison sentence Bennett received reflects the severity of his actions and the risk his actions presented to the Seaford community. Weiss also stated that Bennett introduced a large amount of heroin into the community and that he used guns to advance his activity.
He provided weapons to dealers pushing his heroin.
Delaware U.S. District Court Judge Gregory M. Sleet attached three years of supervised release onto Bennett’s sentence on Thursday. Judge Sleet emphasized that he found Bennett’s involvement with the Criminal Justice System for almost 20 years disconcerting.
The aspect of Bennett’s criminal conduct that Judge Sleet found most unsettling is that Bennett used guns to advance his heroin distribution activities.
Federal court records denote that he was convicted in February 2006 of criminally negligent homicide.
ATF assures persistent pursuit of people posing threat
Daniel L. Board Jr., is the Special Agent in Charge, ATF Baltimore Field Division. Board stated that narcotics traffickers – who are armed – present a clear threat to people in Seaford, as well as throughout Delaware. He assured that the ATF will remain unwavering in response to such threats.
Board further noted that the ATF will continue to proactively counter crime by targeting, investigating, and collaborating in prosecuting people who strive to diminish the quality of life in communities.
Bennett was precisely the type of destructive and potentially violent criminal that the ATF, Seaford Police Department, and the U.S.
Department of Justice want to get off of America’s streets, Weiss stated. Judge Sleet told Bennett at his sentencing hearing that he hopes the lengthy prison term will motivate Bennett to rehabilitate his life, not only for himself but also for his children.
