A Danville, Ky., man was sentenced to 26 years in prison for his role in a fentanyl trafficking operation that resulted in the overdose death of a local resident.
Akili O. Simpson, 23, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves on Friday for conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl that resulted in death.
According to his plea agreement, from March 2022 until July 2023, Simpson conspired with others to distribute quantities of fentanyl in Danville. Simpson also admitted the quantity of the drugs involved in the conspiracy was at least 40 grams of fentanyl.
Following a distribution of drugs by Simpson, on November 3, 2022, a victim in Danville overdosed and died, due to the ingestion of fentanyl. The fentanyl distributed by Simpson was in a counterfeit pill, which was marked to resemble an oxycodone pill. During the investigation, law enforcement discovered Instagram messages on the victim’s phone that showed Simpson was the source of the fentanyl that caused the overdose death.
Simpson admitted to law enforcement agents that he obtained approximately 300 to 500 of the counterfeit pills per month for distribution in Danville. Simpson further admitted that he knew that the pills contained fentanyl.
“This case is a stark reminder of the dangers of illicit fentanyl, its prevalence in our communities, and the devious methods of those selling it,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “These drugs are extremely dangerous and there is little way to know for certain what a drug dealer may be selling. Dealers often distribute fentanyl in the form of counterfeit pills; but while they may look like legitimate pharmaceuticals, the pills contain fentanyl – about 100 times stronger than oxycodone.
Under federal law, Simpson must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years. The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Danville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Bradbury prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Related Federal Cases
- Lexington Dealer Joshua Ewing Sentenced to Life for Fentanyl Death · Kentucky
- Stanford Duo Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution · Kentucky
- Lexington Dealer Gets Life for Deadly Fentanyl · Kentucky
- Sinaloa Cartel’s Ohio Pipeline: 12 Charged in Fentanyl Ring · Washington
- Fayette County Man Gets 78 Months for Fentanyl, Gun Charges · Kentucky
Key Facts
- State: Kentucky
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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