A man working at a D.C. government office has been arrested and charged with selling fentanyl and heroin in front of in front of his office.
The arrest took place on Tuesday, after the FBI discovered fentanyl in his possession during a raid at his workplace, which is the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs office located in Southwest D.C.
It was confirmed by Mayor Muriel Bowser that the arrest was part of an ongoing FBI investigation on drugs.
The employee identified as 51-year-old Darrell Marcellus Pope is now on leave from the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. Living in Clinton, MD, he was working with drug dealers based in Woodbridge, VA.
Both the FBI and Prince William County police have been investigating the drug ring linked to Woodbridge.
He was reportedly caught by undercover agents as he sold fentanyl and heroin that is worth thousands of dollars. Court documents revealed that some of these transactions happened outside his government office.
Pope reportedly sold drugs worth $8,700 (87 grams) to an undercover agent and an informant in a total of nine transactions between August 20 and September 18. Eight of these purchases took place outside the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs office.
FBI carried out a search at Pope’s office on Tuesday, executing a search warrant. FBI agents also found illegal drugs at Pope’s home, along with three firearms and a scale. He also had 30 grams of fentanyl on him while he was arrested.
Pope identified D.C.-based Ronald Maxwell Gorham, as his regular supplier. The 61-year-old man, together with Pope, appeared in court on Wednesday and the pair were detained until their hearing scheduled for Friday.
According to the Washington Post, Pope and Gorham have not been appointed lawyers yet and family members of both declined to comment.