Lincoln Fentanyl Dealer Gets 15+ Years

LINCOLN, NE – Austin Barrett, 29, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is facing a long stretch behind bars after being sentenced to 188 months – over 15 years – in federal prison for distributing fentanyl. The sentence, handed down May 23, 2024, by Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard, reflects the severity of the charge and the deadly consequences of the drug Barrett peddled.

The case unraveled on April 1, 2021, when Lincoln Police Department (LPD) officers responded to a harrowing 911 call at a Lincoln residence. They found a man unresponsive, barely clinging to life. A used syringe, a baggie containing suspected heroin, and a spoon coated with residue were discovered at the scene. Lincoln Fire & Rescue (LFR) sprang into action, administering Narcan, which thankfully revived the victim, though he couldn’t recall what he’d taken or how much.

Lab tests quickly confirmed the grim reality: the substance wasn’t heroin, but the potent and deadly synthetic opioid, fentanyl. Investigators soon traced the source back to Barrett. Phone records painted a clear picture. Barrett arrived at the victim’s home shortly before the overdose, coinciding with an arranged drug deal. Just sixteen minutes after Barrett left, the desperate 911 call was made.

The LPD didn’t stop there. On April 20, 2021, officers engaged Barrett in a recorded phone conversation. Under questioning, Barrett brazenly admitted to selling heroin/fentanyl to the victim on April 1st. He also confessed to exchanging text messages with the man prior to the sale, cementing his involvement in the dangerous transaction.

Federal sentencing guidelines offer no parole. Barrett will serve his full 188-month sentence before being released, and even then, he’ll face a 5-year term of supervised release. This isn’t just a sentence for a drug deal gone wrong; it’s a statement about the federal government’s commitment to cracking down on the fentanyl crisis that is ravaging communities across the country.

The investigation was spearheaded by the dedicated officers of the Lincoln Police Department, whose work brought a dangerous drug dealer to justice and, potentially, saved other lives. The Grimy Times will continue to follow federal prosecutions and hold those responsible for poisoning our communities accountable.

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