NEWARK, NJ – A resident of Middlesex County has been convicted on charges related to a large-scale fentanyl and heroin distribution network. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger confirmed that Kenneth Strickland, 57, of New Brunswick, New Jersey, faced a jury which found him guilty of all charges presented in the superseding indictment.
Strickland was convicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute significant amounts of narcotics—specifically, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of heroin—and five additional counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The verdict came swiftly, with the jury deliberating for less than two hours after an eight-day trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti.
The trial revealed that from November 12, 2019, to June 30, 2020, Strickland was an active participant in a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of fentanyl in various New Jersey locations including Paterson and New Brunswick. Throughout this period, Strickland conducted 16 drug transactions directly with an undercover police officer, providing fentanyl stamped with ominous labels like “MY SHADOW,” “DEATH ROW,” and “VENOM.”
During a coordinated search on June 30, 2020, law enforcement officials seized over 350 grams of fentanyl and various drug paraphernalia from locations in Paterson and Passaic, which were linked to the drug trafficking group. This evidence included stamping tools used to label the drugs sold by Strickland.
Strickland now faces severe penalties for his crimes. The conspiracy charge alone could result in a life sentence and a $10 million fine, while the distribution charges each carry a potential 20-year prison term and a $1 million fine. His sentencing is scheduled for December 12.
