A man arrested last year in Pentagon City pleaded guilty Friday to two drug charges, including possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Willie Gene Thorne, 29, of D.C., also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in a drug trafficking crime, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
In September, a search of Thorne’s vehicle in the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City parking garage found 91 grams of fentanyl, a digital scale, a razor blade and more than 80 small baggies. A loaded, stolen handgun was also found in Thorne’s waistband, according to prosecutors.
Thorne had been observed speeding in the parking garage before wrongfully parking in a handicapped spot, police said. After he left the area, officers identified a large bag in the vehicle containing a white, powdery substance.
Thorne initially resisted arrest after returning to his vehicle, according to police, complying after he was threatened with a taser.
Thorne faces a mandatory minimum of five years, and as much as life in prison, though typical federal sentences are below the maximum penalties. He will be sentenced on Sept. 6.
More, below, from the U.S. Attorney’s Office press release.
A Washington man pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, on Sept. 6, 2023, while conducting vehicle checks at the Pentagon City Fashion Centre garage, an Arlington County Police officer observed a vehicle speeding through the garage before parking in a handicap spot without a handicap sticker. The vehicle was registered to Willie Gene Thorne, 29, who had at least one outstanding arrest warrant from Pennsylvania.
The officer inspected the vehicle and noticed 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. The officer called for additional officers to assist.
When Thorne returned to his vehicle, he initially resisted arrest before complying when threatened with a taser. In his waistband, Thorne had a loaded, stolen 9mm handgun. A search of the vehicle revealed, among other items, 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 approximately 100 baggies in his pants pocket.
Thorne is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 6 and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison. Actual 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.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and Charles “Andy” Penn, Arlington County Chief of Police, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the plea.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher M. Carter is prosecuting the case.
