Dover Man Sentenced to 40 Months in Federal Prison for Drug Dealing, Gun Possession

DOVER, Del. – A Dover man was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison on Wednesday for drug dealing and possessing a gun after multiple prior felony convictions.

On Apr. 16, U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Hall sentenced 24-year-old Deontray Watson after he plead guilty to federal gun and drug offenses. The most recent gun conviction marks the fifth of such convictions in the past ten years.

“Deontray Watson has been an armed danger to Delaware since he was a teenager,” said U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace. “The just sentence imposed by Judge Hall today is more than double the longest sentence Deontray Watson has previously served… 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.”

According to court documents, Watson was released from state prison on a prior gun conviction in late Feb. 2024. Less than a month later, law enforcement received information that Watson was once again armed and now dealing drugs. Law enforcement proceeded to arrest 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 reportedly found beneath the passenger seat on top of Watson’s wallet.

“This sentence reflects ATF’s commitment to targeting armed drug traffickers who fuel violence in our communities,” said ATF Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer. “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.”