NORFOLK, Va. – Carlton Jamel Dillard, a Portsmouth resident, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The investigation into Dillard, 40, began on December 31, 2022, when Portsmouth emergency responders discovered an unconscious male suffering from gunshot wounds on Randolph Street. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Police identified the crime scene at 1700 Atlanta Avenue, finding several spent cartridge casings.
Detectives learned that the victim had been in conflict with another narcotics distributor known as “Mel,” later identified as Carlton Jamel Dillard. A witness reported seeing Dillard arrive in an unknown vehicle as a passenger, accompanied by an unknown driver. Dillard and the driver approached the victim on foot and opened fire.
Following this information, a felony arrest warrant for homicide was issued for Dillard on January 1, 2023. Police located and arrested Dillard two days later. During the arrest, law enforcement found eight capsules of fentanyl on him and keys to a parked SUV. Inside the SUV, officers observed a 9mm ammunition box and a digital scale in plain view.
A search warrant for the SUV led to the recovery of a loaded black CZ 75 P-01 semi-automatic pistol, four clear plastic bags containing cocaine, a digital scale, and ammunition. After being advised of his rights, Dillard admitted to shooting the victim with the recovered firearm.