Tyler Ralls, Fentanyl Distribution Resulting in Death, Kansas 2023

A Wichita man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for distributing a fentanyl pill that caused a fatal overdose.

According to court documents, 35-year-old Tyler Ralls of Wichita pleaded guilty in October 2023 to one count of distribution of a controlled substance which resulted in death.

On July 31, 2019, Ralls gave Michael Marsalla, 35, a pill that Ralls knew was laced with fentanyl. Ralls admitted knowing that Marsalla wasn’t a user and thus didn’t have a tolerance for fentanyl.

The next day, when Ralls couldn’t reach Marsalla by phone, he drove to Marsalla’s house and found him unresponsive. Ralls dialed 911, and emergency responders pronounced Marsalla deceased at the scene. An autopsy determined the victim died of fentanyl toxicity.

“Michael Marsalla’s vibrant life was cut short because of a single pill,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher. “This 25-year prison sentence is one of the most severe handed down for a fentanyl causing death case in the history of the District of Kansas.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak prosecuted the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Valley Center Police Department investigated the case.

The harsh sentence is a strong warning to those who traffic in this deadly substance, and a reminder of the devastating consequences of their actions. This case serves as a cautionary tale for those who would peddle this poison in our communities.

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