DAYTON, Ohio – A gritty federal court sentenced Nykiha Astin, a 42-year-old Dayton resident, to over eleven years in prison for importing a potent opioid cutting agent from China. Astin’s scheme was aimed at distributing the substance, known as ‘juice,’ to drug dealers across the Midwest.
According to court documents, Astin conspired with others to import at least one kilogram of metonitazene from Chinese sources. The substance was intended to be mixed with fentanyl, significantly enhancing its potency and yield when sold on the black market.
Astin was charged in May 2024 and pleaded guilty a year later. His conviction is part of a broader investigation that resulted in four defendants being convicted in this case.
Senior U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose imposed the sentence, while Dominick S. Gerace, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Detroit office, announced the verdict. The prosecution was led by Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi and Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders.
The crackdown on Astin’s operation underscores the ongoing battle against the opioid crisis that has ravaged communities across the nation. As law enforcement agencies continue to target suppliers and distributors of these deadly substances, the sentence handed down today is a stark reminder of the serious consequences for those involved in the illegal drug trade.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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