Alexandria, Va. – A Washington man, Willie Gene Thorne, 29, pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on September 6, 2023, at the Pentagon City Fashion Centre garage. An Arlington County Police officer, conducting routine vehicle checks, observed a vehicle speeding through the garage before parking in a handicap spot without the proper sticker. The vehicle was registered to Thorne, who had an outstanding arrest warrant from Pennsylvania.
The officer inspected the vehicle and noticed suspicious items, including a patch of aluminum foil with burn marks, a large bag of a white powdery substance, two straws, and a plastic bag containing several small baggies. Additional officers were called to assist.
When Thorne returned to his vehicle, he initially resisted arrest but complied when threatened with a taser. A loaded, stolen 9mm handgun was found in his waistband. A search of the vehicle revealed a bag containing 91 grams of fentanyl, a digital scale, a razor blade, and approximately 84 baggies. Thorne also had a straw with residue and around 100 baggies in his pants pocket.
Thorne is scheduled to be sentenced on September 6 and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison. Sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.