Wayne County Man Sentenced to Nearly 13 Years for Distributing Fatal Fentanyl-Laced Pills

A Wayne County man caught trafficking counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills, connected to a fatal overdose, will serve nearly 13 years in federal prison, officials announced. Dylan Alexander Jones, aged 24, was handed a sentence of 155 months after pleading guilty to charges related to fentanyl distribution and firearms. The decision was disclosed by the

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina

, with United States Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. stating, “We are bringing swift justice against anyone trafficking counterfeit pills laced with deadly fentanyl, especially when their poison claims one of our neighbor’s lives.”

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office released, on a July 22, 2022 incident took the life of an individual due to fentanyl toxicity, evidenced by a post-mortem toxicology report. After the victim received pills from a Snapchat account linked to Jones, as proven by the analysis of the victim’s phone data. Armed with a handgun during his arrest, Jones was also in possession of fentanyl and a considerable amount of cash, with the aftermath caught by deputies of the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office responding to the 911 call.

“The sentencing of Dylan Jones is a pivotal step in our ongoing fight against the devastating impact of drug overdose deaths. We stand firm in our commitment to justice for the victims and their families. I want to commend our exceptional team for their relentless dedication and professionalism in building this challenging case. Together, we are making strides toward a safer community,” Duplin County Sheriff Stratton Stokes said. Data from the investigation showed Jones and the victim met at a Warsaw rest area mere hours before the overdose tragedy unfolded. Subsequent controlled purchases by law enforcement confirmed the presence of fentanyl in all pills obtained from Jones, according to

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Building on the collective efforts to stem the fentanyl crisis, Jones is also required to perform a minimum of 50 hours of community service, focusing on educating the youth about fentanyl dangers. This directive comes alongside the 155-month prison term and five years of supervised release as ordered by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The robust case resulting in Jones’s conviction is a testament to the rigorous training of law enforcement on securing sentences, as U.S. Attorney Easley put it, “Our team has trained law enforcement across the district on building airtight cases to secure firm sentences in federal court,” a statement obtained by

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina

.

The Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, Carolina Beach Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration were involved in the investigation and prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Lemons led the prosecution.

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