Joshua Ewing Sentenced to Life for Fentanyl Death, Lexington KY, [Y…

Carfentanil Dealers Face Life Behind Bars for 7 Overdoses in Rowan County

A federal grand jury has brought charges against two men for distributing a deadly synthetic opioid that caused multiple overdoses in Rowan County, Kentucky.

Travis Clark, 28, of Cincinnati, and Matthew Bowman, 27, of Morehead, were indicted for one count each of conspiring to distribute carfentanil and distribution of carfentanil, resulting in serious bodily injury.

Carfentanil is an extremely powerful synthetic opioid that is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl – which is itself 50 times more potent than heroin.

The indictment alleges that on September 7th and 8th of this year, Clark and Bowman illegally distributed carfentanil that resulted in seven drug overdoses.

Kerry B. Harvey, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, DEA; and Derrick Blevins, Chief of the Morehead Police Department, jointly announced the indictment.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA and the Morehead Police Department.

The overdose charge carries a minimum of 20 years and up to Life in prison, upon conviction; the conspiracy charge carries a minimum of five years and up to 40 years.

An indictment is an allegation only. All defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial, at which the government must prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Carfentanil is a controlled substance typically used as a tranquilizing agent for elephants and other large mammals. Recently, the Drug Enforcement Administration issued a warning to the general public and to law enforcement personnel nationwide about the health and safety risks associated with carfentanil.

The DEA and local authorities have been working to combat the growing threat of synthetic opioids in Kentucky.