Jacob Ebel, 32, Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy and Possession Charges

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jacob Ebel, age 32, of Niverville, New York, pled guilty yesterday to drug conspiracy and possession charges, and admitted that he distributed heroin and fentanyl to two people who took these drugs and then died in Columbia County in July 2016.

In a shocking turn of events, Ebel agreed to be sentenced to 18 years in prison. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; New York State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett; and Columbia County Sheriff David P. Bartlett.

United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith stated: “Jacob Ebel was a merchant of death whose heroin and fentanyl killed two people in less than three weeks. Thanks to the quick and thorough work of our law enforcement partners, Ebel is being held responsible for his crimes and the pain and suffering he inflicted on two families. We will continue to pursue those who peddle this poison, while also maintaining our robust education and outreach efforts aimed at turning the tide of opiate addiction.”

Columbia County Sheriff David Bartlett stated: “There should be zero tolerance for those who peddle poison on our streets. These dealers are killers and we will continue to work with our federal and state law enforcement partners to bring them to justice for their heinous behavior. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New York State Police, Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka and members of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office who all worked collaboratively to deliver justice in this case.”

Ebel admitted to selling heroin, fentanyl and other controlled substances, from 2014 through July 26, 2016, in Columbia County. He also admitted to dealing heroin and fentanyl first to a man identified as S.B., who overdosed on July 3, 2016 and died five days later, and then to a woman identified as S.S., who overdosed and died on July 23, 2016.

On the morning of July 23, 2016, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) responded to a house in Stuyvesant, New York, and found S.S. dead. Investigators found three folded sticky notes in a small plastic bag on her bed; the notes contained heroin and fentanyl. The CCSO investigation established that Ebel had sold heroin and fentanyl to S.S.’s husband in the days prior to S.S.’s death, and that S.S., age 19, had taken these drugs and died.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Ebel’s house in the early morning hours of July 26, 2016. Investigators seized about 16 grams of heroin and fentanyl that Ebel intended to sell. Ebel was arrested that day and has been in custody ever since.

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