Fentanyl Kills 2

⏱ 2 min read

Jacob Cotton, a 34-year-old from Spokane, Washington, shipped 150 fentanyl pills to Skagway, Alaska, between January 1 and 13, 2023, resulting in the overdose deaths of two men. Cotton had agreed to sell the pills to an individual in Skagway, who would then distribute them and split the proceeds. At the time, Skagway was experiencing a fentanyl drought, making Cotton’s shipment highly sought after.

The pills were shipped via the U.S. Postal Service and arrived in Skagway between January 11 and 12. The individual who received the shipment began selling the pills, including to a 44-year-old man who would later die from an overdose. On January 13, the 28-year-old individual who received the shipment was found unresponsive and later declared dead. The next day, the 44-year-old man was found dead in his bedroom.

The State of Alaska Medical Examiner’s Office determined that both victims died from acute toxic effects of fentanyl. Law enforcement searched the 28-year-old victim’s residence and recovered 62 fentanyl pills hidden in a computer tower. During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence of records confirming Cotton’s shipment of drugs, digital messages, and other forms of payment connected to the illegal drug sales.

Cotton was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, resulting in the deaths of two men. The conviction is a significant blow to fentanyl distribution in Alaska, where the opioid epidemic has had a devastating impact.