Who is Dwayne Fountain? Delaware Drug Kingpin Sentenced to 25 Years

Delaware’s biggest drug case reached its conclusion when Dwayne Fountain, a 54-year-old drug kingpin, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison. Fountain was found guilty earlier this year of running one of the state’s largest drug trafficking networks, with ties to a Mexican cartel.

Rise of Dwayne Fountain

Fountain, originally from Philadelphia, was once known as a weightlifter and self-proclaimed personal trainer. To his crew, he was “OG” and “Big Homie.” Every morning, he would text them one word — motivation — followed by a flexed bicep emoji. But those messages weren’t about fitness. They were demands to push more drugs into the streets.

His empire thrived on fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and xylazine, also known as “tranq.” Court records revealed that Fountain mixed fentanyl with other drugs to create dangerous brands like ONE DAB and Track Hawk. The packages were marked with logos such as a panda in red shorts.

The Drug Operation in Delaware

Authorities say Fountain stored massive amounts of drugs in an apartment on Varsity Lane in Bear, Delaware, where one of his 15 children lived. He also kept an industrial kilogram press at his $500,000 Middletown home, using it to repackage drugs into bricks for distribution.

His network relied heavily on supply lines from California and Scranton, Pennsylvania, tied to a Mexican cartel. At its peak, Fountain’s crew pushed huge quantities across Delaware.

The Historic Drug Bust

Federal agents began investigating after one of Fountain’s connections in Scranton was arrested. Undercover buys from one of his dealers allowed investigators to close in. When police raided his home and stash apartment, they found:

• Over 10.5 kilograms of fentanyl

• 3.5 kilograms of cocaine

• Nearly 3 kilograms of heroin

• Half a kilogram each of meth and xylazine

The total — about 35 pounds of drugs — marked the largest fentanyl seizure in Delaware history. Authorities also seized $100,000 in cash, body armor, and several guns.

Conviction and Sentencing

Fountain was convicted in U.S. District Court in Wilmington on charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and related drug dealing crimes. Prosecutors described him as a cold-blooded businessman who knowingly sold poison for profit.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Welsh told WHYY News: “He knew exactly how deadly fentanyl was. Yet, he kept mixing and selling it. He wasn’t just a dealer. He was the leader.”

Fountain’s cousin Martin Fountain, along with William Warren and Durell Patton, also received prison sentences but for shorter terms.

The Defense Argument

His lawyer, Todd Fiore, argued that Fountain wasn’t a major trafficker. He pointed out that police only found less than $4,000 in cash at his residence, no flashy cars, and no luxury lifestyle. But prosecutors dismissed that claim, saying he deliberately stayed low-profile to avoid attention.

Final Verdict

Judge Colm F. Connolly sentenced Fountain to 25 years, calling the case a warning about the deadly grip of fentanyl in Delaware. Fountain has appealed the decision, but for now, he remains behind bars.