ST. LOUIS, MO – In a grim reminder of the deadly consequences of the opioid epidemic, a St. Louis County man has been sentenced to 84 months in prison for selling fentanyl that led to a woman’s fatal overdose.
Donald Lawrence Bateman, 28, pleaded guilty in January to distribution of a controlled substance and possession with the intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing fentanyl. The victim, a St. Louis woman, was found dead the next day after purchasing $90 worth of drugs from Bateman.
According to court documents, Bateman and the victim engaged in a series of text messages discussing the sale of the illicit substance, with Bateman referencing pills referred to as “30s.”
The victim’s blood sample contained fentanyl and ethanol, and a search of Bateman’s residence turned up 17 blue pills labeled “M30” containing fentanyl, 14 green pills, and a firearm.
Bateman’s defense team disputed the claim that the pills were the cause of the victim’s death, but after witness testimony and evidence were presented in court, U.S. District Judge John A. Ross ruled that Bateman’s sale of the drugs was directly linked to the victim’s fatal overdose.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cort VanOstran, James Delworth, and Samantha Reitz prosecuting the case.
Bateman’s sentence is a harsh reminder of the consequences of selling deadly substances on our streets. The opioid epidemic continues to ravage communities across the country, and it’s up to law enforcement and the justice system to hold accountable those who profit from it.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri vows to continue cracking down on those who engage in the illicit sale of fentanyl and other deadly substances, and to bring justice to the victims and their families.
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Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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