Emmanuel Dourthe, a 26-year-old from Deltona, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber for charges including conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Dourthe entered a guilty plea in November 2024.
Court documents reveal that on February 14, 2023, law enforcement officers searched a storage unit used by Dourthe and his co-conspirator Brendan Wells for storing narcotics intended for sale. Officers discovered significant quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine within the unit. They also found various cutting agents, mixing tools, and a Smith & Wesson M&P semiautomatic rifle with gun cases, magazines, and ammunition.
The investigation into the storage unit began after messages on Dourthe's phone indicated narcotics trafficking activities involving him and others, including Wells. DNA testing confirmed Dourthe's DNA on the firearm seized from the storage unit. As a convicted felon, Dourthe is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
On the same day as the storage unit search, law enforcement also conducted a residential search where they recovered Wells' backpack containing over 143 grams of methamphetamine.
Wells pleaded guilty in November 2024 as well; his sentencing is set for March 26, 2025.
The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. Forfeiture proceedings are being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department's strategy launched on May 26, 2021, focuses on building trust within communities while supporting organizations that work to prevent violence.