Kingsport Man, Fentanyl Overdose Death, Tennessee 2024

Kingsport Man Sentenced to Life for Fentanyl Overdose Death Role

A Kingsport man has been sentenced to life in prison for his role in a fentanyl overdose death. Terrance Lamont Hines, 42, of Kingsport, Tennessee, was sentenced to life in prison by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville.

Hines was found guilty of conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl with a resulting death, multiple counts of distributing fentanyl, possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The jury also found that Hines conspired to supply the mixture of fentanyl that caused the victim’s death.

The victim, a 52-year-old Kingsport woman, died in her home in Sullivan County on December 3, 2020. An autopsy and toxicology tests revealed that the victim had overdosed on fentanyl. The victim had been self-medicating with controlled substances she purchased from others, including Hines.

Following a lengthy investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, investigators were able to establish that Hines had supplied the fentanyl that resulted in the victim’s death. Hines sold the fentanyl to a codefendant, who sold it to another codefendant, who supplied it directly to the victim. Three codefendants, Shaina K. Langford, 34, of Jonesborough, Tennessee, Adam Presnell, 37, of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Robin Hutchins, 63, of Kingsport, Tennessee, were part of the chain of distribution. Lanford and Presnell have been sentenced to 120 months and 84 months in prison, respectively.

The investigation also led to the seizure of over 100 grams of fentanyl with a street value exceeding $116,000, a 9mm pistol, an assault rifle, and other drug paraphernalia from Hines’ business and apartment. “Fentanyl is an exceedingly dangerous drug, and overdose deaths from fentanyl have become all too common across Tennessee and the nation,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “The United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to use every available resource to prosecute those who traffic fentanyl to provide justice to the victims and to deter others who might be considering trafficking in fentanyl.”

Hines’ codefendants have been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing. Hutchins, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 19, 2024. Hines will be on supervised release for 10 years following his incarceration.

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