A former Los Angeles Angels employee has been sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for his role in the 2019 overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.
Eric Prescott Kay, 46, was found guilty in February of distributing a controlled substance resulting in death and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Kay, who served as the Angels’ communications director, was sentenced Tuesday by Senior U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means in the Northern District of Texas.
According to evidence presented at trial, Kay distributed the pills that killed Skaggs, who was just 27 years old at the time of his death.
The investigation began on July 1, 2019, when the Southlake Police Department received a 911 call stating that Skaggs had been found dead in his hotel room at the Southlake Town Square Hilton.
An analysis of the pill, which closely resembled a 30-milligram oxycodone tablet, revealed it had been laced with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opiate.
During the investigation, prosecutors discovered text messages from June 30 suggesting that Skaggs had asked Kay to stop by his room with pills late that evening.
Kay initially denied knowing whether Skaggs was a drug user, but later admitted to a colleague that he had visited Skaggs’ room the night of his death.
Several former Angels players, including Matt Harvey, C.J. Cron, Mike Morin, and Cameron Bedrosian, testified at trial that Kay distributed blue 30-milligram oxycodone pills to them as well.
At Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, prosecutors introduced into evidence jailhouse calls and emails demonstrating the nature of Kay’s crime and his lack of remorse.
Kay repeatedly insulted Skaggs, his deceased victim, calling him a ‘piece of sh*t’ and suggesting that his mother plant negative stories about the Skaggs family in the media.
U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham said following the hearing that the sentence would bring some comfort to Skaggs’ grieving family.
‘The Skaggs family learned the hard way: One fentanyl pill can kill. That’s why our office is committed to holding to account anyone who deals in illicit opioids, whether they operate in back alleyways or world-class stadiums,’ Meacham said.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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