30-year sentence in fentanyl case linked to lethal overdose

A Little Rock man who distributed the fentanyl that resulted in an individual’s overdose demise has been sentenced to 30 years in jail. Jemel Foster, 32, was sentenced in the present day by United States District Choose Billy Roy Wilson, who thought of Foster’s convictions of 4 federal drug and firearm crimes, together with distribution of fentanyl that resulted in demise.

Foster was additionally convicted in his July 2022 trial of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute it, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Choose Wilson sentenced Foster to 300 months for distribution of fentanyl leading to demise, the utmost sentenced allowed by legislation of 240 months and 120 months, respectively, for possession of fentanyl with intent to ship and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and 60 months for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. The 60-month sentence is to run consecutively to the 300- month sentence, for a complete of 360 months in jail. There is no such thing as a parole within the federal system.

“As we speak’s prolonged sentence emphasizes the fact that drug crime is violent crime,” said United States Lawyer Jonathan D. Ross. “A younger lady has needlessly misplaced her life due to the violence that accompanies drug crime. Unlawful fentanyl distribution is a scourge in our group that must be stopped, and this sentence ought to clarify that there are extreme penalties for anybody who chooses to illegally promote fentanyl. We’re grateful this defendant will not be capable of peddle this lethal substance in our group.”

On July 6, 2021, a grand jury charged Foster in a superseding indictment with the 4 counts he took to trial, all of which associated to 2 January evenings in 2021.

The proof at trial revealed that on the night of January 11, 2021, a girl bought fentanyl from Foster round 7:22 p.m. within the car parking zone of a Little Rock Walgreens retailer. In accordance with testimony from the health worker who carried out her post-mortem, the girl died from a deadly dose of fentanyl round midnight that night at her mom’s close by residence. After discovering her physique the following morning, the girl’s household contacted the Little Rock Police Division, and finally the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). At trial, the DEA brokers concerned within the case defined how they had been in a position to establish Foster because the supply of the deadly fentanyl from information within the sufferer’s cellphone.

The DEA, believing Foster wouldn’t remember the girl had died, used the sufferer’s cellphone to contact Foster on January 12, 2021, and ask if he had any extra fentanyl on the market. Foster agreed to fulfill on the similar Walgreen’s car parking zone the particular person he believed can be the girl who bought fentanyl from him the evening earlier than. When Foster arrived on the car parking zone, the DEA arrested him and situated eight luggage of fentanyl in his pants, totaling roughly 4 grams, and a firearm in his car. The baggage of fentanyl discovered on Foster’s particular person matched precisely two luggage of fentanyl that had been discovered on the sufferer’s physique throughout her post-mortem.

At trial, the health worker testified that there is no such thing as a protected dosage of illicit fentanyl, and tiny quantities of the substance can kill an individual almost instantly. The health worker and state toxicologist testified that it was their opinion that fentanyl induced the sufferer’s demise.

“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug menace we face in the present day, killing People at report charges,” stated DEA Assistant Particular Agent in Cost Jarad Harper. “Final yr alone, almost 108,000 lives had been misplaced to a drug poisoning, with fentanyl driving this report improve. Drug traffickers are mixing fentanyl in different illicit medication in an effort to drive dependancy and create repeat consumers. This investigation highlights the efforts of DEA, our legislation enforcement companions, and america Lawyer’s Workplace who work tirelessly daily to deliver harmful drug sellers to justice.”

Along with his sentence of imprisonment, Foster was sentenced to a few years of supervised launch on every depend to run concurrently. The investigation was carried out by DEA, with help from the Little Rock Police Division and Arkansas State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Givens and Benecia Moore.