Man found with thousands of drug baggies in Caroline sentenced to 25 years

CAROLINE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A North Carolina man was sentenced to over two decades in prison after state troopers pulled him over in Caroline County and found thousands of baggies of drugs in his car.

On Thursday, Feb. 6, 35-year-old Jaron James Starkey of Charlotte, North Carolina was sentenced to 25 years in prison for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and parafluorofentanyl -- an opioid analgesic that is similar to fentanyl.

According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the incident took place on Sept. 17, 2023.

That day, multiple drivers made 911 calls regarding someone driving erratically on Interstate 95 southbound in Caroline County. Troopers with Virginia State Police responded to the area and found Starkey, who had crashed his Jeep, according to the DOJ. Court documents state that the vehicle was heavily damaged.

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"Starkey, who was alone in the car, was speaking incoherently and his eyes were bloodshot," the DOJ said, adding that he was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

State troopers then found thousands of baggies containing white powder "scattered throughout Starkey's car," according to the DOJ.

In total, troopers collected 4,497 baggies of parafluorofentanyl and 120 baggies containing fentanyl. The combined weight of the parafluorofentanyl was over 122 grams.

Court documents state that, after being read his Miranda rights, Starkey said he had traveled from Charlotte to Wilmington, Delaware, where he purchased fentanyl for the purpose of distribution.

Not including this incident, Starkey has 21 prior convictions as an adult, with the DOJ describing him as a "career criminal." Some of those crimes include two other drug trafficking convictions, conspiracy to commit burglary and multiple firearm offenses.