ROSWELL, GA – Hubert Nathans, 33, of Roswell, and his supplier, Edward Culton, 29, of Atlanta, are facing significant time behind bars after being sentenced for their callous roles in a fentanyl distribution network that resulted in the death of one individual and the near-fatal poisoning of another. The pair peddled fake Roxicodone pills laced with the deadly opioid, turning a profit off the desperation of addicts.
The Roswell Police Department began investigating Nathans in the fall of 2017, responding to a surge in opioid overdoses linked to his operation. Investigators quickly determined Nathans wasn’t dealing legitimate prescriptions; he was pushing counterfeit pills containing fentanyl. The trail led them to Edward Culton, residing in a Buckhead high-rise, who was identified as Nathans’ source.
The grim reality of their trade came into sharp focus when 24-year-old T.C. overdosed and died after consuming fentanyl pills purchased from Nathans on October 2, 2017. Despite the fatal consequences, Nathans didn’t stop. Three months later, he sold pills to 30-year-old E.M., who required emergency medical intervention to survive. This blatant disregard for human life fueled the federal charges.
Agents arrested both Culton and Nathans on February 15, 2018, recovering nearly 1,000 fentanyl-laced pills from Culton’s apartment. Both men eventually pleaded guilty. U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. handed down a 12-year prison sentence to Nathans, followed by 15 years of supervised release. Nathans was convicted of conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl that caused overdoses resulting in death and serious bodily injury.
Culton received an even harsher sentence: 18 years and three months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was convicted of conspiring to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute and aiding and abetting the distribution of fentanyl. U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan stated, “Nathans and Culton remorselessly sought to profit from drug addiction at any cost.”
The ATF, alongside the Roswell Police Department and the DEA Atlanta Field Division, spearheaded the investigation. ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka emphasized the agency’s commitment to dismantling these deadly networks, while Roswell Police Chief James Conroy declared, “Each and every pill distributed by Nathans and Culton in our community represented the potential for another life lost.” The case serves as a stark reminder of the escalating opioid crisis and the federal commitment to holding those responsible accountable.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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