Detroit (DDN) – A 43-year-old Detroit man was sentenced to 23 years in federal prison on Tuesday after being found guilty of narcotics trafficking and tied to three overdoses of fentanyl-laced crack cocaine, two of which resulted in death.

Melvin Lamar Triplett was convicted in September of narcotics conspiracy and distributing drugs that resulted in death or serious bodily damage.

According to a news statement from the United States Attorney’s Office, evidence at trial revealed that Triplett was the leader of a drug trafficking network that supplied fentanyl-laced crack cocaine, resulting in several overdoses.

“Our office will vigorously pursue drug traffickers who push dangerous drugs like fentanyl and crack cocaine into our communities, despite the tragedy it causes,” said Detroit Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck.

“Two people died as a result of Mr. Triplett’s criminal activity, and the sentencing reflects the DEA’s and our outstanding law enforcement partners’ efforts in this investigation,” said Andrew Lawton, DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Office.

Reference: Detroit Drug Trafficker Linked to 3 Overdoses — 2 of Them Deadly — Gets 23 Years