Omar Ponton, who in September was charged in a three-count superseding indictment, pleaded not guilty to those charges Wednesday in Elizabeth City, court records show.

United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle accepted Ponton’s plea and advised him of the charges and maximum penalties, according to available documents in his case.

Boyle also set Ponton’s trial date for February 17 at a time and location to be determined.

Ponton was remanded back to custody.

Ponton, of Roanoke Rapids, had originally been charged in a two-count indictment which says he distributed a quantity of fentanyl while possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

In September, a federal grand jury upped the ante for Ponton, charging him with the following:

Count 1 — Around April 9 of 2020 knowingly and intentionally distributing 40 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.

Count 2 — Around March of last year knowingly and intentionally distributing a quantity of fentanyl.

Count 3 — Possessing a weapon while a convicted felon.

On March 3 of last year a Mossberg 500 A 12-gauge shotgun and ammunition was seized from his possession.