Portsmouth Man Sentenced to 50 Months for Firearms and Drug Offenses

NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man was sentenced today to 50 months in prison after illegally possessing two firearms, narcotics, and narcotics paraphernalia in a highly residential area close to downtown Portsmouth.

According to court documents, on March 16, 2023, federal agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration began surveillance on Danny Marcus Collins, 35, to assist the Portsmouth Police Department in arresting Collins as a result of two state summonses. While conducting surveillance, the investigative team observed Collins meet with multiple individuals and conduct hand-to-hand transactions from his vehicle. After noticing police, Collins rolled up the window of his vehicle and fled on foot. Collins was taken into custody.

Shortly thereafter, a Portsmouth police narcotics K9 conducted a narcotics sweep of Collins’ vehicle, which resulted in a positive alert. The vehicle was searched and approximately 27 grams of cocaine, 8.3 grams of crack cocaine, 2 grams of cocaine, and 7.5 grams of suspected marijuana were recovered. Two firearms (one loaded), $1,183, packaging material, ammunition, and a digital scale were also recovered.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and Stephen Jenkins, Chief of Portsmouth Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyssa Miller and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Cheney prosecuted the case.

This case was part of the DEA’s Operation Overdrive, an initiative aimed at combatting the rising rates of drug-related violent crime and overdose deaths plaguing American communities.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-38.