Fentanyl Dealer Gets 10 Years for Deadly Cover-Up

ST. LOUIS – Quinton O’Bryan Adaway, 26, of Ballwin, Missouri, will spend the next decade behind bars after being sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for providing the fatal dose of fentanyl that killed a friend and then attempting to cover up the crime. U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey handed down the sentence Tuesday, closing a grim chapter in a case that exposed the deadly consequences of the fentanyl crisis and a callous disregard for human life.

According to court documents, late on July 11, 2020, or in the early hours of the following morning, Adaway supplied several fentanyl-laced capsules to the victim, identified as “M.C.” The pair had a history of drug transactions, and both were locked in a battle with addiction. Adaway knowingly warned M.C. that the capsules were significantly more potent than anything he had used before – a chilling admission of recklessness that ultimately proved fatal.

M.C. consumed the fentanyl while in his vehicle and quickly overdosed, dying at the scene. Instead of calling for help, Adaway discovered the body later that day or the next and made a calculated attempt to conceal the evidence. He partially buried M.C. in his backyard and further attempted to obstruct justice by removing the SIM card from the victim’s cell phone and discarding the device. This wasn’t a panicked reaction; it was a deliberate cover-up.

The deception began to unravel quickly. On July 12th, M.C.’s family and girlfriend began frantically searching for him. The girlfriend contacted Adaway, who brazenly lied about his knowledge of M.C.’s whereabouts. The next day, a missing person report was filed, and investigators, utilizing cell phone tracking, pinpointed M.C.’s last known location to Adaway’s residence. The Ballwin Police Department was immediately contacted.

A search of Adaway’s property yielded the grim discovery of M.C.’s body, along with the missing SIM card, two of the victim’s debit cards, and additional drugs and drug paraphernalia. The evidence painted a clear picture of Adaway’s involvement – not just in supplying the deadly fentanyl, but in a desperate and failed attempt to evade responsibility. Adaway pleaded guilty in September to one count of distribution of fentanyl.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski prosecuted the case, securing a significant sentence that sends a message about the severity of fentanyl-related crimes. The Ballwin Police Department conducted the initial investigation. This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic and the willingness of some to prioritize self-preservation over human decency. The Grimy Times will continue to follow federal cases impacting communities across the nation.”

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