SCRANTON – In a stark reminder of the deadly consequences of drug trafficking, Luis Antonio Zayas, 47, from Hazleton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl, a Schedule I controlled substance, which led to the tragic death of a pregnant woman and her unborn fetus.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Zayas admitted in court that he sold what he believed to be heroin to the victim on July 6, 2016. However, the drug was actually pure fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid painkiller. The woman, who was 33 weeks pregnant at the time, overdosed and died, along with her unborn child. Toxicology results confirmed that both mother and fetus succumbed to lethal levels of fentanyl.
Zayas arranged the deal via text messages, boasting about the drug’s strength: “damm good shit…….good enough to get way higher than intended lol.” He was indicted by a grand jury in Scranton in August 2016.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation into this case. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski is handling the prosecution.
This tragic incident is part of the Heroin Initiative, a district-wide effort to combat the nationwide heroin epidemic. The initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and involves coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Under federal sentencing guidelines, Zayas faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and a maximum of life for the drug delivery charge. The Judge will consider various factors before imposing a sentence, including the nature of the offense, the defendant’s history, and the need to protect public safety.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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