Justin Bryant, Fentanyl-Related Death and Distribution, Kentucky 2022

PIKEVILLE, Ky. - A federal jury in Pikeville has convicted a local man of distributing fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl that caused the death of another individual.

Justin Bryant, 38, of Shelbiana, Ky., was found guilty of distributing the deadly drugs and conspiring with others to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and para-fluorofentanyl.

The jury reached its verdict following a three-day trial and just under three hours of deliberations.

According to evidence presented during the trial, on October 12, 2021, Bryant smuggled the drugs into the Pike County Detention Center and distributed them, resulting in the death of another individual in the jail.

Bryant was indicted on January 27, 2022, and will appear for sentencing on February 7, 2023. He faces a potential sentence of 20 years to life in prison, although the exact sentence will depend on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable federal sentencing statutes.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA, with the United States represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew H. Trimble.

The conviction is a significant victory in the ongoing fight against the opioid crisis, and serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of fentanyl trafficking.

As a result of the conviction, Bryant will face the possibility of significant prison time, a stark reminder of the consequences of engaging in such heinous crimes.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edky/pr/pike-county-man-convicted-connection-fentanyl-overdose-death