Antonella Barba tried to deliver nearly two pounds of the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl to Norfolk, Virginia in October as a member of a drug ring that also trafficked in heroin and cocaine, federal authorities allege.
An indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Norfolk Thursday also accuses the former “American Idol” star from Point Pleasant of possessing 400 grams of a substance that contained a detectable amount of fentanyl.
Barba, 32, was charged by federal authorities with one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of conspiracy, as state drug dealing charges were dropped.
Barba, who had been out on a $50,000 secured bond since Oct. 27 on the state charges, was taken into federal custody Monday morning.
