James Adam Earwood, Heroin and Fentanyl Distribution, Iowa 2021

A devastating case of heroin and fentanyl distribution has resulted in a guilty verdict for a North Carolina man. James Adam Earwood, 38, of Lake Lure, North Carolina, was found guilty of distribution of a controlled substance, heroin and fentanyl, causing the death of another.

The jury delivered the verdict on October 5, 2023, following a four-day trial. The evidence presented in court showed that Earwood mailed packages of heroin and fentanyl to a victim in Dubuque, Iowa, on two separate occasions. The first package was sent on November 18, 2021, and the victim used the substances and overdosed in a local business parking lot. The victim survived the overdose, but tragically, they received another package on December 17, 2021, which they used and died shortly thereafter.

Evidence also revealed that Earwood was using social media platforms on the dark web to arrange transactions of heroin and fentanyl with other individuals. Investigators tracked down at least one other package that Earwood had sent through the US Mail, which contained heroin and fentanyl.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Corkery and Patrick Reinert, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra Hake. The investigation was conducted as part of the Northern Iowa Heroin Initiative and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice.

The case has significant implications for the community, highlighting the dangers of heroin and fentanyl distribution. Earwood’s actions led to the tragic loss of a life, and his conviction serves as a reminder of the consequences of such crimes.

Earwood is currently being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be sentenced. A sentencing date has not yet been set. The case file number is 22-CR-1024, and court file information can be found at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

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