Tucson Woman Charged With Causing Fatal Fentanyl Overdose and Other Opioid Trafficking Crimes

     TUCSON, Ariz. – Earlier this month, the grand jury returned an indictment charging Lana Leshinsky, 41, of Tucson, Ariz., with several crimes related to fentanyl trafficking, including one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death—a crime that, under federal law, carries a mandatory-minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.  Specifically, it is alleged that, in July 2017, Leshinky distributed fentanyl to a man who later died from ingesting it. 

     An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt.  An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

     The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration.  The prosecution is being handled by Stefani Hepford, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona.

 CASE NUMBER:           CR-18-00229-RCC-JR

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-013_Leshinsky

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

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