Salisbury man sentenced for distributing fentanyl

SALISBURY, Md. – A Salisbury man has been sentenced to nearly two decades in prison for fentanyl distribution.

34-year-old Darnell Jenkins was convicted in September 2022 of distribution of fentanyl and two counts of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. The charges stem from an investigation conducted by Maryland State Police and the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office regarding Jenkins selling narcotics in Wicomico County. Two law enforcement officers posed in an undercover capacity and were able to purchase bundles containing wax folds of fentanyl from Jenkins on three occasions. Officers say they initially believed the drugs being sold by Jenkins were heroin, but lab testing showed that the substances were fentanyl. Police say during the latter two incidents, Jenkins sent another person to deliver the fentanyl to the undercover officers on his behalf. The person was allegedly suffering under the throes of drug addiction and was coaxed into delivering the fentanyl packages for Jenkins with the promise of receiving additional drugs for his personal use.

At the time of the incidents, Jenkins was on supervised probation for convictions on armed robbery and attempted armed robbery charges.

This week, a Wicomico County judge sentenced Jenkins to a total of 18 years of incarceration.