CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Maryland resident has admitted to attempting to distribute 400 grams of fentanyl while carrying a handgun in Harrison County.
Court documents said in August of 2022, William Phillip McDowell, 44, of Bowie, Maryland, was driving a rental car through Harrison County with two passengers and was stopped by police for speeding. Police determined McDowell was operating the rental car with a suspended license and was on probation for a felony murder conviction.
During a search of the car, police recovered a “brick-sized” quantity of fentanyl that weighted 997.7 grams, 43 other baggies that contained a total of 16.46 grams of fentanyl, 8.89 grams of cocaine, and a stolen handgun.
McDowell entered a guilty plea to possession with the intent to distribute 400 grams of fentanyl in the case.
In July of 2023, detectives from the Prince William County Police Department witnessed McDowell conduct what they thought to be a drug transaction in a Woodbridge, Virginia, parking lot. Detectives detained McDowell when he returned to the passenger seat of the vehicle and conducted a search.
During the search, detectives found a backpack with a handgun, ammunition, 388 fentanyl pills, 22 grams of cocaine, a digital scale with cocaine residue, $617.85 in cash, and a wallet with McDowell’s photo identification.
McDowell entered a guilty plea to using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
McDowell will be sentenced on June 11.