‘One final deadly dose:’ Fentanyl trafficker sentenced to 15 years after woman overdoses and dies

A Raleigh man is being sent to prison after officials from the U.S. Department of Justice say he assisted in distributing fentanyl to a 22-year-old woman who overdosed and died.

A Raleigh man is being sent to prison after officials from the U.S. Department of Justice say he assisted in distributing fentanyl to a 22-year-old woman who overdosed and died.

Treveris Montel Coward, also known as ‘Bad News,’ was sentenced to 15 years in prison after he pled guilty on October 4, 2022.

โ€œDrug dealers are increasingly selling drugs laced with deadly fentanyl to make them stronger, more addictive, and more profitable. Now thousands of North Carolinians, including kids, are dying from overdoses,โ€ said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley.

According to court documents, the victim had previously suffered an overdose, and Coward rendered aid to help her survive. However, despite her recent overdose, he provided her with more fentanyl the following day — causing her to overdose and die.

Easley called Coward “the worst kind of coward” for “rendering aid to an overdose victim only to sell her one final deadly dose.”

He says he hopes narcotics dealers will pay attention to the 15-year sentence.

“If your drugs kill, you will pay a heavy price,” he said.

The sentencing of Coward is an example of the collaborative effort of the U.S. Attorneyโ€™s Office and the Raleigh Police Department in holding those who distribute deadly substances into our community responsible.

“We are grateful for our partnership. Coward distributed fentanyl to a vulnerable 22-year-old individual who was susceptible to an overdose, which led to her tragic death,” said Raleigh Chief of Police Estella Patterson. “[We] will not yield in the fight against fentanyl.”

Emily Robinson, the Alamance Co. Sheriffโ€™s daughter has been found guilty of death by distribution

Emily Robinson was convicted of supplying the drugs that killed a man by overdose back in 2021.

ALAMANCE COUNTY, N.C. โ€” A jury heard closing arguments Tuesday in the death by distribution case involving the Alamance County Sheriff’s daughter. 

Emily Robinson faces several drug-related charges. The biggest among them โ€”death by distribution. 

  1. Possession with intent to sell or deliver a controlled substance
  2. Maintaining a building for sale of controlled substances
  3. Possession of drug paraphernalia
  4. Sale or delivery of controlled substance
  5. Death by distribution

The jury found Robinson guilty of death by distribution. Court documents show she will serve and active sentence between 60 to 84 months.

Robinson is accused of supplying the fentanyl that killed Robert James Starner Jr. on September 15, 2021. The state medical examiner’s office determined Starner died from one or a combination of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. 

The prosecution said witness interviews, phone messages, and GPS all indicated that Starner met up with Robinson to buy fentanyl right before he died. 

The defense argued that it could have been other drugs that contributed to Starner’s death rather than the fentanyl that was allegedly supplied by Robinson.ย 

Read the article and watch the video on the WFMY News2 website.

Man pleads guilty to supplying drugs that led to fentanyl poisoning

CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. โ€” A person accused of supplying the drugs that led to a manโ€™s death pleaded guilty in court on Friday.

The hearing was a long time coming for the family of Marshall Abbott, who died due to fentanyl poisoning in June 2022. He died one day before his 30th birthday.

Aaron Furr was arrested in connection with Abbottโ€™s death and charged with death by distribution. Police say he supplied the fentanyl that killed Abbott.

In court Friday, Furr pleaded guilty to the charge. He was sentenced to about five and a half to seven and a half years in prison.

His family sighed with relief when Furr was sentenced.

โ€œIโ€™m a mom. I fought for Marshall his whole life and Iโ€™ll always fight for him,โ€ Beth Abernathy said.

Abernathy has fond memories of her son.

โ€œHe was an amazing father and amazing son, an amazing friend. And this world is a darker place without him,โ€ she said.

Her husband, Matt Abernathy, said losing Marshall changed everything for him.

โ€œItโ€™s a before and an after โ€” Before Marshall and after Marshall โ€” and life is just different,โ€ he said.

The district attorneyโ€™s office sent a statement to Channel 9, saying, โ€œit was an honor to advocate for justice for Marshall Abbott and his family.โ€ But Beth Abernathy said justice wonโ€™t stop here.

โ€œMarshallโ€™s case will set a precedent for every family that has to go through this,โ€ she said. โ€œWeโ€™ve created a roadmap here in Cabarrus County, and we have proven that you can successfully investigate and prosecute these cases. And we will stand by every fentanyl family in our county and across the state to make sure that every fentanyl dealer is punished to the full extent of the law.โ€

After the plea hearing, Marshall Abbottโ€™s family and other advocates who came to support them met with the district attorney and assistant district attorney. Goetz was in that meeting while the DA thanked the family for fighting so hard and talked about work they will do in the future to fight for other families.

Read the article and watch the video on the WSOC TV9 website.

Garner Man Sentenced to 16 and a Half Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl Resulting in an Overdose Death

RALEIGH, N.C. โ€“ Reginald Webb, a 33-year-old resident of Garner, has been sentenced to 198 months in prison for distributing heroin and fentanyl in the Raleigh area.  On April 11, 2017, Webb was the source of the fentanyl distributed to a 22-year-old woman who overdosed and died.  Webb pled guilty on January 5, 2024. Webbโ€™s co-defendant in this case, as well as an additional individual who was indicted separately, have previously pled guilty to charges and are awaiting sentencing.

โ€œIn 2023, there were more thanย 4,000 suspected overdose deathsย in North Carolina. Drug dealers who lace fentanyl into their supply and prey on vulnerable individuals who have an addiction should know that the U.S. Attorneyโ€™s Office will use every tool available to seek justice for victims of fentanyl poisoning and their familiesโ€ said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. โ€œWebb’s actions show a complete disregard for human life motivated by sheer greed.โ€

Continue reading “Garner Man Sentenced to 16 and a Half Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl Resulting in an Overdose Death”

High Point man sentenced to 8-11 years for death by distribution in Thomasville

THOMASVILLE, N.C. (WGHP) โ€” A High Point man was sentenced to 8-11 years in prison after pleading guilty to death by distribution, according to the Thomasville Police Department.

On May 28, 2021, officers came to the 300 block of James Avenue and found 35-year-old Jacob Fields dead at the scene.

An autopsy report later revealed that Fields died from a fentanyl overdose.

Investigators identified Larento Valentino Grady Jr., 30, of High Point as the person who supplied the fentanyl to Fields.

On June 13, 2022, the High Point Police Department and Thomasville officers located and arrested Grady at his High Point home without incident.

Grady was indicted by a Davidson County Grand Jury on charges of second-degree murder and death by distribution in July 2022.

On Wednesday, Grady pleaded guilty to the death by distribution charge and was sentenced to serve a minimum of 100 months and a maximum of 132 months in prison.

โ€œThe sentence of Larento Grady Jr., to over eight years in prison is a testament to the hard work Thomasville detectives and the Davidson County District Attorneyโ€™s Office put into this investigation to ensure our goal was accomplished,โ€ said Detective Lt. Jeff McCrary. โ€œThomasville detectives continue to work tirelessly alongside the Davidson County District Attorneyโ€™s Office and other law enforcement partners to ensure the people dealing drugs in our community are held fully accountable for the death and destruction they selfishly cause.โ€

Read the original article and watch the video on the MyFox8.com website.

North Carolina man pleads guilty to death by distribution in fentanyl overdose case

HIGH POINT, N.C. โ€”

A man charged in connection with an overdose death in 2021, has pleaded guilty to death by distribution.

Thomasville police said on May 28, 2021, they responded to James Avenue and discovered the body of 35-year-old Jacob Fields. An autopsy report revealed Fields died from a fentanyl overdose.

Grady was sentenced to serve a minimum of 100 months and a maximum of 132 months in prison or more than eight years.

Read the original article and watch the video on the WXII 12 News website.

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