Federal grand jury charges Daniel Stolte, 29, of illegal importation of synthetic opioid.

A federal grand jury has indicted a Massillon man with illegally importing the deadly drug fentanyl from China.

Daniel Stolte, 29, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of importing fentanyl, according to an indictment filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court.

Stolte imported 100 grams of fentanyl — about 1,000 doses — from Hong Kong in March. Federal agents intercepted the package and arrested Stolte on March 22, according to court papers.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. It was involved in 64 fatal overdoses last year in Stark County, more than heroin or any other opioid, according to an analysis of Stark County Coroner’s Office records.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Customs and Border Protection investigated the case.

Federal agents intercepted a package bound for Stolte’s home on March 20 at the Massillon Post Office. Lab testing confirmed that it contained 100 grams of fentanyl in the form of off-white rocks and particles, according to court papers.

Agents replaced the fentanyl with a substitute and delivered the parcel to Stolte’s home at 871 Reservoir Drive NE in Massillon.

After agents raided the home, Stolte told them he was hooked on fentanyl and had ordered the drug online for $800 that he paid in Bitcoin, a digital currency. Stolte claimed he didn’t sell drugs, according to court papers.

But agents found a pill press, gas masks, a scale, psilocybin mushrooms and other items in the home, and the amount of fentanyl shipped to Stolte indicated a trafficking operation, according to court papers.

Stolte remains in federal custody and has yet to enter a plea to the indictment.

The possession charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and the importing charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.

Reach Shane at 330-580-8338 or shane.hoover@cantonrep.com

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