A Wichita man has pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl that resulted in a death. Tyler Ralls, 35, of Wichita, Kansas, admitted to giving a 30mg fentanyl pill to Michael Marsalla, 35, while they worked together at a company in Park City on July 31, 2019. Ralls knew the pill contained fentanyl and that Marsalla wasn’t tolerant to the substance.
According to court documents, when Marsalla failed to arrive at work the following day, Ralls drove to his house in Valley Center and found him unresponsive. After calling 911, Ralls contacted his source for fentanyl pills to ask if anyone had died from taking them. Emergency responders pronounced Marsalla deceased at the scene. A subsequent autopsy confirmed that the victim died of fentanyl toxicity.
“Because of the enormous influx of counterfeit pills into our communities, anytime a person ingests pills that they didn’t get directly from a medical professional, they are at great risk of dying of fentanyl overdose,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher.
Ralls is scheduled to be sentenced on January 17, 2024. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Valley Center Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case.
Ralls is currently awaiting his sentencing and could face a life sentence in prison. The case highlights the dangers of fentanyl and the importance of being cautious when ingesting pills that are not obtained from a medical professional.
The investigation into the case is ongoing, and the public is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
Related Federal Cases
- Adam Sloan, Fentanyl Distribution Resulting in Death, New York 2025 · Kansas
- Quentin W. Carder, Fentanyl Distribution Resulting in Death, Missouri 2021 · Kansas
- Shakorra Bonds, Fentanyl Distribution, Wichita KS, 2024 · Kansas
- Adam Sloan, Fentanyl Distribution, New York 2025 · Kansas
- Juan Dedias Herrera, Distribution of Methamphetamine, Tyler TX, 2023 · Texas
Key Facts
- State: Kansas
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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