Fentanyl trafficking charge puts Lawton man behind bars

A controlled fentanyl purchase led to charges and a Lawton man being jailed on $250,000 bond.

Kevin Anthony Daniels, 47, made his initial appearance Tuesday in Comanche County District Court where he received felony charges for fentanyl trafficking, maintaining a place for keeping/selling drugs and unlawful use of a communication facility, records indicate. Due to four prior convictions, the trafficking charge can be punishable by up to 80 years in prison and a fine between $100,000 and $250,000.

A joint purchase of fentanyl by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Comanche County Sheriff’s Office resulted in leading investigators to Daniels. A confidential informant arranged to buy the drug from Daniels in May and the transaction was recorded by investigators, the probable cause affidavit states. Following examination of the drug by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, it confirmed Daniels sold approximately 1 gram of fentanyl.

Daniels was arrested May 31 for a protective order violation warrant and a search was conducted on his home where two sets of functional digital scales were recovered containing the presence of methamphetamine, the affidavit states.

During an interview with investigators, Daniel admitted he’d been in the “game” a long time and that there is a “new thing out here, people are having a real sickness with their addictions,” according to the affidavit. He said he only sold small amounts for people he has known a long time, investigators said.

Daniels has three prior felony convictions from Comanche County: September 1997 for use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and September 2004 and November 2006 for possession of a firearm after conviction or during probation; as well as a federal conviction in the U.S. Western District for felon in possession of a firearm, records indicate.

As part of Daniels’ bond condition he is to wear a GPS ankle monitor. He returns to court at 3 p.m. Feb. 11, 2025, for his preliminary hearing conference.