FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Lexington, Ky., man, Darryl Anderson, Jr., 27, was sentenced to 245 months in prison on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Chad Meredith for distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
On January 7, 2023, Lexington Police Department officers responded to a fatal overdose in Lexington. At the scene, investigators recovered the victim’s cellphone and, using a passcode provided by a friend, found recent messages showing that the victim had arranged to purchase marijuana and three “30” pills from a contact saved as “DJ,” whom police identified as Anderson. Law enforcement also discovered drug evidence, including fentanyl residue on a bathroom sink, a cut straw, and a counterfeit blue “M 30” pill; laboratory testing confirmed both items contained fentanyl.
Anderson admitted selling pills to the victim on multiple occasions, including the night before his death, and noted that he purchased the pills for $10 each and sold them for $20. A search warrant executed at Anderson’s apartment led to the seizure of approximately eight pounds of marijuana, a digital scale, and $2,340 in suspected drug proceeds. Anderson acknowledged distributing fentanyl to the victim and that the victim’s use of that fentanyl resulted in his death.
“Fentanyl is a deadly poison, and those who knowingly distribute it must understand that their actions have consequences—especially when those actions result in the loss of a human life,” said Jason Parman, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “You don’t know what you’re getting on the street—counterfeit pills can contain deadly doses of fentanyl, as this case tragically demonstrates. This sentence holds Darryl Anderson accountable for selling fentanyl to a victim who ultimately paid the highest possible price. Our office, working alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who profit from this poison and hold them responsible for the devastation their drugs cause in our communities.”
Jason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and; Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Lexington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Bradbury prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Eastern District of Kentucky — U.S. Department of Justice press release.