Fentanyl Conspiracy Kills Two in Murfreesboro

Two people are dead and a community is reeling after a deadly fentanyl distribution ring pumped poison into the streets of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. A federal grand jury has indicted seven individuals, including key figures Jonathan Barrett, a.k.a. “Punky,” 29, of Murfreesboro; Eric Falkowski, 34, of Kissimmee, Florida; Davi Valles, Jr., 25, of Nashville; Johnny Williams, 30, of Murfreesboro; Jason Moss, 26, of Murfreesboro; Jennifer Dogonski, 33, of Murfreesboro; and Preston Davis, 22, of Madison, Tennessee. The charges stem from a 24-hour overdose surge in July that flooded hospitals and left bodies in morgues.

On that day, emergency crews responded to multiple overdoses across Murfreesboro—all linked to fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills. At least two victims died after ingesting the synthetic opioid, while others survived with life-threatening injuries. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and Murfreesboro Police Department launched a rapid investigation, tracing the supply chain back to a coordinated network manufacturing and distributing the lethal substance. U.S. Attorney David Rivera called it a “lethal cocktail” that infected neighborhoods and shattered families.

The nine-count indictment unsealed in Nashville charges Jonathan Barrett, Eric Falkowski, Davi Valles, Jr., Johnny Williams, and Jason Moss with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and serious bodily injury. Count one charges all five with conspiracy; one additional count charges them with distribution causing death; and five counts allege distribution causing serious bodily injury. Falkowski, Valles, Williams, and Moss face an additional count of distribution resulting in serious bodily injury. Falkowski is also charged separately with one count of distribution resulting in death.

Jennifer Dogonski, 33, of Murfreesboro, was previously charged on July 29, 2016, with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl causing serious bodily injury. She has since pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing. Preston Davis, 22, of Madison, Tennessee, was charged on September 13, 2016, with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death, and with possession of an AR-15 assault rifle in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Davis’ case remains pending.

According to court documents, Falkowski moved his pill manufacturing operation to Davis’ home in Madison in May 2016 after law enforcement raided his Florida residence and seized pill presses. At Davis’ property, agents allege the pair possessed a full-scale operation: a pill press, dies engraved with markings like “A333,” a pill grinder, raw fentanyl, alprazolam, and other equipment used to mass-produce counterfeit prescription drugs designed to mimic legitimate medication.

“This organization is charged with making and distributing a lethal cocktail that poisoned our communities,” said U.S. Attorney David Rivera at a noon press conference. “Today, those named in this indictment are being held accountable in a court of law.” Rivera emphasized that while prosecutions are underway, the fentanyl crisis persists. Federal, state, and local agencies vow to continue targeting those who profit from death, as synthetic opioids flood streets and claim lives one pill at a time.

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