A North Carolina resident has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute parafluorofentanyl and fentanyl. The sentencing took place in Richmond, Virginia, following a series of events that began on September 17, 2023.
Court documents reveal that Jaron James Starkey, 35, was driving erratically on I-95 in Caroline County. His behavior prompted several drivers to call 911. When the Virginia State Police (VSP) arrived at the scene, they found Starkey had crashed his Jeep. Starkey was incoherent and had bloodshot eyes. He was taken to Mary Washington Hospital's emergency room.
Upon inspecting the vehicle, VSP officers discovered thousands of glassine baggies filled with a white powder scattered inside Starkey's car. A total of 4,497 blue glassine baggies containing parafluorofentanyl were collected, weighing over 122 grams in total. Additionally, there were 120 white glassine baggies containing fentanyl.
Starkey has a criminal history that includes 21 prior convictions as an adult. These include two previous drug trafficking offenses and charges related to firearms possession as a convicted felon and conspiracy to commit burglary.
The announcement of the sentencing was made by Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; Lt. Colonel Matt Hanley, Interim Superintendent of Virginia State Police; and Brian Layton, Chief of Fredericksburg Police after Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson handed down the sentence.
The investigation involved assistance from the Fredericksburg Regional Narcotics Task Force and prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Mastandrea.
Further details about this case can be accessed through court documents available on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or PACER under Case No. 3:24-cr-58.