Lynchburg Man to Serve More Than 17 Years for Selling Fentanyl and Methamphetamine While Possessing an Illegal Firearm

LYNCHBURG, Va. - A Lynchburg man, who was in possession of more than 60 pressed fentanyl pills and over 850 grams of methamphetamine, as well as a 9 mm pistol when police pulled him over in June 2024, was sentenced this week to 210 months in federal prison.

Cordero Antonio Trent, 36, pled guilty in May 2026 to one count of possessing with the intent to distribute and distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and using and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

"This office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who possess illegal firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Illegal firearms, fentanyl, and meth present a lethal mixture that places our citizens and communities at risk. I want to thank the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Lynchburg Police Department for the work on this investigation and commitment to keeping Lynchburg safe," First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today.

According to court documents, on June 26, 2024, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a silver Dodge Charger in which Trent was a passenger. Law enforcement had been searching for Trent, who had active warrants for his arrest.

During the traffic stop, officers saw an orange and black backpack between Trent's legs. Trent was removed from the vehicle and searched. He was found in possession of two cellular phones and a bag of marijuana. In addition, Trent was in possession of $4,900 in cash.

Additionally, in a small bag around Trent's neck, officers found a plastic bag containing 61 pressed fentanyl pills. Inside the orange and black backpack, officers found a large bag containing a white crystal substance ultimately determined to be 850 grams of methamphetamine.

In the glove compartment, immediately in front of where Trent was sitting, officers found an FNH 9 mm pistol. The firearm was tested and determined to have a latent fingerprint that matched Trent.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Lynchburg Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Welsh is prosecuting the case.