Akron man pleads guilty to using a firearm while having nearly a half-pound of carfentanil

An Akron man will likely be sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to using a firearm while having nearly a half-pound of carfentanil, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdmanand Akron Police Chief Kenneth Ball.

Da’Nico D. Geter, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of carfentanil and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison.

Geter possessed 201.5 grams of carfentanil and a Springfield Armory .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol on Sept. 7, 2017, according to court documents.

“This amount of carfentanil is staggering, and having that much is like walking around Akron with a bomb,” Herdman said. “That fact, combined with him using a firearm as part of his drug trafficking, demonstrates the community is safer with this defendant behind bars. Akron police did a tremendous job.”

Police Chief Ball said: “More than 300 people have died as a result of drug overdose in Akron since the start of 2016. Drug dealers like Da'Nico Geter are largely responsible. Almost 3,000 others have suffered through non-fatal overdoses. For each victim, many family members and loved ones are victimized too. In this case, Akron Narcotics Unit members are responsible for a thorough and professional investigation that will rid our community of a major contributor of the collective suffering. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has once again ensured that the sentence meets up with the seriousness of the offense.” 

This case was investigated by the Akron Police Department’s Narcotics Unit and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa L. Riley.