(South Bend, IN) - The hammer has dropped hard on a man who appears to have played a major role in the sale of fentanyl in the area. Rico Marion of Michigan City has received a 37-year federal prison sentence after pleading to the charges in U.S. District Court at South Bend.

 

According to court documents, the 44-year-old Marion was involved with other individuals in the distribution of fentanyl in the Michigan City area.  He was caught in August of 2021 with more than a kilogram of fentanyl pills while traveling back to Michigan City.

 

The pills purported to be oxycodone were later discovered to actually be fentanyl. A kilogram of fentanyl is enough to kill about 250,000 people and has an estimated street value of about $100,000, according to experts.

 

“Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine meaning as little as 2 milligrams can kill.  Our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners are focused on dismantling organizations that distribute this deadly illicit drug,” said U.S. Attorney Clifford Johnson.

 

Authorities said Marion also possessed numerous firearms during his fentanyl-related activities.