Cincinnati Man Sentenced in Fentanyl Distribution leading to Overdose Death

COVINGTON, Ky. – A Cincinnati man, Nathaniel Ferguson, 47, was sentenced on Wednesday to 264 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.  

An investigation revealed that on May 21, 2025, Ferguson sold approximately 50 pressed pills containing fentanyl and xylazine to co-defendant, Ryan Cooley. Cooley then sold the pills to co-defendant Nicholas Sturgill, who brought them to his Kenton County residence and distributed them to the victim, who died the next day. Toxicology results and autopsy findings confirmed that the victim’s death resulted from an overdose involving fentanyl and xylazine.

During the investigation, agents recovered additional blue pills and drug paraphernalia from the residence, all of which tested positive for fentanyl and xylazine. Sturgill admitted to purchasing such pressed pills from Cooley for approximately one year, including those involved in the fatal incident, and provided text messages corroborating the transactions. Surveillance footage from the May 21 sale further confirmed Cooley’s involvement and showed him arriving at the scene of the drug transaction in a vehicle driven by Ferguson.

Cooley and Sturgill have pleaded guilty to their involvement in the fentanyl distribution resulting in death and are scheduled to be sentenced on October 8. 

Jason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Scott Hardcorn, Director of the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, and Chief Matthew Hall, Villa Hills Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA, the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, and the Villa Hills Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. 

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