A devastating case of fentanyl trafficking has come to a close with a severe sentence for a Bronx man.
VIRGIL WARDLOW, 31, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for distributing fentanyl-laced pills in exchange for sex with a 16-year-old minor, resulting in the death of a 19-year-old victim on March 25, 2023, in a hotel room in the Bronx, New York.
WARDLOW pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of narcotics before U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, who imposed the sentence.
According to court filings and statements made in court proceedings, WARDLOW engaged in a pattern of paying for commercial sex with black market pills containing fentanyl. He offered to provide pills in exchange for sex or money through anonymized cellphone messages.
WARDLOW sent these messages using an anonymized cellphone number that masked his identity from his intended victims. The case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit and Narcotics Unit.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey W. Coyle is in charge of the prosecution. In addition to the prison term, WARDLOW was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,000 in connection with the funeral expenses of the 19-year-old victim.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York State Police, the New York City Police Department, and Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
The consequences of WARDLOW’s conduct are heart-wrenching, and the sentence sends a powerful message to those who traffic deadly drugs to vulnerable victims, Williams said.
This case is a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of fentanyl trafficking and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
Related Federal Cases
- Letitia James, Fentanyl Trafficking, New York 2022 · Texas
- Wall Street Firms, Financial Malfeasance, New York NY, 2023 · New York
- Christopher Ferguson, Securities Fraud, New York 2020 · Texas
- Christopher Ferguson, Scheme to Inflate Order Numbers, New York 2023 · New York
- Todd Faustin, Workers’ Compensation Fraud, New York NY, 2023 · New York
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
