Chesapeake Man Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Trafficking Guns and Cocaine (DOJ)

NORFOLK, Va. - A Chesapeake man was sentenced yesterday to seven years and six months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents, from Oct. 17, 2023, to Nov. 14, 2023, Deionte Deard Bratton, 44, sold cocaine, fentanyl, and four firearms in a series of four controlled purchases conducted by law enforcement. During the Nov. 14 transaction, Bratton received fentanyl from Kenyon Thomas, 43, of Norfolk, which Bratton then sold.

Following the Nov. 14 transaction, in December 2023 and November 2024 law enforcement conducted four controlled purchases of a total of over 56 grams of fentanyl and the purchase of one firearm from Thomas. On Jan. 13, Thomas pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On April 15, Thomas was sentenced to eight years and seven months in prison.

Bratton and Thomas have previous felony convictions and cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated this case with assistance from the Norfolk Police Department.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nikolas Nelson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District CourtLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACERLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-132.