Everett man who dealt fentanyl to undercover agent gets federal prison

EVERETT — U-Haul trucks would stop at Dane Britton’s home in Everett at all hours of the night in 2021.

But they weren’t carrying furniture, just large bags, a neighbor told federal investigators.

This added to federal agents’ suspicions after a confidential informant told them Britton was dealing fentanyl, heroin and meth. Britton, who already had over 10 felony convictions to his name, told the informant he went down to California every Tuesday to replenish his supply.

So on Oct. 25, 2021, an undercover agent from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms arranged a deal with Britton. He gave Britton $3,500 for 988 counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl, according to a complaint later filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle. Testing later confirmed the pills contained fentanyl.

But the meeting reportedly didn’t end with the drug deal. Britton also told the agent he had a dozen guns.

A few months later, Britton texted the agent to call him. On the phone, Britton told the agent he had “blueberries, baby blueberries,” referring to the counterfeit pills. He also tried to get the agent to buy guns, including an AR-style rifle, according to court documents. The agent agreed.

Britton told the agent the gun would sell for $2,500 in Washington, but about $6,000 if he went down to Mexico to sell it, according to court papers.

A couple weeks later, the undercover agent met Britton at his home in Everett. The agent only wanted guns, no drugs. Still, Britton mentioned he could get 10,000 to 15,000 fentanyl pills at a time, prosecutors alleged.

Not long after, Britton got a call that he answered in Spanish, according to court papers. Then a Jeep Cherokee registered to a Mexican citizen pulled up. Britton paid the Jeep driver, then the agent followed the defendant to Everett Secure Self Storage on 4th Avenue W. While there, he sold the agent three guns for $3,800.

A couple months later, a federal grand jury indicted Britton on six drug and gun charges.

In May, the defendant pleaded guilty to three of the counts: unlawful firearm possession, possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. U.S. District Court Judge Tana Lin dismissed the other three charges.

On Nov. 6, Lin sentenced Britton to a year on the first two counts and another five years on the third count, for a total of six years behind bars.

Court records show Britton had a lengthy criminal history, including over 60 arrests. He had convictions dating back to 1993 in King, Snohomish and Benton counties.

Fentanyl has wreaked havoc in Snohomish County and across the country. Last year, fentanyl overdose deaths peaked at 256 in the county, according to the medical examiner’s office, up from 188 in 2022 and 159 in 2021. This year, fentanyl has contributed to 165 overdose deaths.

In total, 335 people died of drug overdoses in the county last year. This year, 231 have died so far.

Jake Goldstein-Street: 425-339-3439; jake.goldstein-street@heraldnet.com; X: @GoldsteinStreet.