Dover Man with Four Prior Gun Convictions Sentenced to 40 Months in Federal Prison

WILMINGTON, Del. - A Dover man was sentenced yesterday to 40 months in prison for drug dealing and possessing a gun after multiple prior felony convictions. U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Hall imposed the sentence.

According to court documents, Deontray Watson, 24, was released from state prison on a prior gun conviction in late February 2024. Less than a month later, law enforcement received information that Watson was once again armed and now dealing drugs. Law enforcement arrested Watson and an associate at a gas station. Inside their vehicle, law enforcement found fentanyl, crack cocaine, and a loaded, stolen handgun. The handgun was found beneath the passenger seat on top of Watson's wallet. Watson ultimately pleaded guilty to federal gun and drug offenses. The gun conviction gives Watson five such convictions in the past ten years.

U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace stated, "Deontray Watson has been an armed danger to Delaware since he was a teenager. That is why, after I became the U.S. Attorney for our District, I continued personally handling this case. The just sentence imposed by Judge Hall today is more than double the longest sentence Deontray Watson has previously served. It is my sincere hope that this is the punishment that finally gets through to Watson. I extend my thanks to our law enforcement partners at the ATF, the Dover Police Department, and Delaware Probation and Parole, all of whom did terrific work investigating this case."

ATF Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer stated, "This sentence reflects ATF's commitment to targeting armed drug traffickers who fuel violence in our communities. By removing individuals who combine illegal narcotics distribution with firearms, we directly reduce the threat of violence in our community and show those who bring guns into our neighborhoods that they will be held accountable."

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware. 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 District of Delaware 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. 1:25-cr-129.

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