David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Denise Brown was sentenced yesterday to 144 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl and 60 months for submitting a false claim to the Small Business Administration (SBA), to run concurrently. Brown was also ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the SBA. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika pronounced the sentence.
According to court documents and statements made in open court, Denise Brown, age 40, was a leader of the Jamar Jackson drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing large quantities of drugs throughout Delaware and the surrounding region. Brown managed the day-to-day drug business, setting up the DTO’s drug milling and packaging operations in Bear, Delaware and King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, recruiting other members of the conspiracy, and directing drug sales. Brown was ultimately arrested at her King of Prussia home on September 23, 2020. Upon searching Brown’s home, law enforcement found thousands of packets of fentanyl-laced heroin, bulk quantities of heroin and fentanyl, and over $120,000 in cash.
In June 2020, Brown also submitted a fraudulent application to the SBA seeking COVID-19 relief funds through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. Based on this application, the SBA deposited $10,000 into the defendant’s bank account.
U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “Yesterday, the Court justly held Denise Brown accountable for her crimes. By trafficking large quantities of drugs from Mexico and distributing deadly fentanyl into our communities, the defendant put lives at risk. She also took advantage of a government program designed to provide economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. This sentence sends a message that those who aspire to profit from illegal activity – whether through drug distribution or fraud – will face significant punishment.”
“Yesterday’s sentence demonstrates the unwavering resolve of law enforcement to protect our community and economy against criminals engaged in drug trafficking and fraud,” said William S. Walker, Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia office. “Through exceptional collaborative efforts, HSI and our partners aggressively identified and investigated the criminal activity in this case. This sentencing is proof positive that those who commit such crimes will be held accountable for their actions.”
U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Acting Inspector in Charge, Raimundo Marrero, added that “Denise Brown helped lead an organized, multi-state, illegal narcotics distribution organization. That organization distributed large quantities of dangerous drugs, including heroin and fentanyl, that destroy our communities. She will face many years in jail which will hopefully serve as a warning to others; these drugs destroy and if you get involved in their distribution, you run the risk of spending many years in prison. I want to thank our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office for the hard work pulling this case together.”
“IRS-Criminal Investigation is proud to have provided its financial expertise in this investigation,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Yury Kruty. “IRS-CI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners by following the money and leveraging our resources.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith C. Ruggles prosecuted the case along with former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe and Whitney Cloud. This case was investigated by HSI and USPIS, with assistance from IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, Delaware State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, and local law enforcement partners.