FARMINGTON – A Wilton resident was sentenced to nine years in prison in U.S. District Court this week, having pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute or possess fentanyl. He also pleaded guilty to felony possession in the Franklin County court system this morning.
Dennis Ayala, 55 of Wilton, previously agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl in U.S. District Court. He was sentenced Monday on that charge, receiving 108 months, or nine years, to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Terms of his release include four years of probation with no use or possession of controlled substances.
He also pleaded guilty unlawful possession of cocaine base, a Class C felony, in Farmington this morning. He received a 16-day jail sentence and a $400 fine. Ayala pleaded nolo contendere in regards to a criminal forfeiture of property proceeding, resulting in a forfeiture of $3,628, with another $3,000 to be returned to Ayala’s attorney for the purpose of paying the fine.
According to court documents, the charges stem from a traffic stop undertaken by Maine State Police on May 22, 2018 on I-95, after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration received information that Ayala was involved in the purchase of fentanyl. Inside the operator’s bag was a canister of WD-40 that was found to contain a hidden compartment. Located inside was 196.9 grams of fentanyl. The operator indicated that the drugs were being delivered to Ayala.
He should have received more time with his past record.
196 grams is about 7 ounces. According to my research each ounce could kill about 13,000 people. Or, if it didn’t kill it would at least give that many highs.
Very glad that they got him and even happier that I no longer live next door to him.
This man used to come into the store I worked in – he was always polite and very nice to deal with – The drug epidemic affects all kinds and I pray he gets the help he needs and also the help his family will need to deal with this as I am sure he will come out of jail a changed man. I have always looked at drug users as a train wreck , and sometimes they just need the right help to get the train cars back on the tracks of life. Praying for this for him.