Final Two Defendants Sentenced in Fentanyl Distribution Resulting in Overdose Death

COVINGTON, Ky. – Two men, Ryan Cooley, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Nicholas Sturgill, of Villa Hills, Ky., were sentenced on Thursday to prison terms of 12.5 years and 10 years, respectively, by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. 

              An investigation revealed that on May 21, 2025, Nathaniel Ferguson, Cooley and Sturgill’s co-defendant, sold approximately 50 pressed pills containing fentanyl and xylazine to Cooley. Cooley then sold the pills to Sturgill, who brought them to his Kenton County residence and shared them with 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.

            Under law enforcement direction, Sturgill conducted controlled purchases of pills from Cooley on multiple dates in June and July 2025. Laboratory testing revealed that the pills contained various dangerous substances, including fentanyl analogues, xylazine, ketamine, and carfentanil. Agents later executed a search warrant at Cooley’s residence, where he admitted to supplying the pills and identified Ferguson as his source. Cooley’s communications with Ferguson confirmed their relationship. A subsequent controlled purchase arranged through Cooley led to the recovery of additional pills supplied by Ferguson, which again tested positive for fentanyl-related substances.

           Ferguson was sentenced on September 16, 2026, to 22 years in prison for his role in fentanyl distribution leading to the victim’s death by overdose.

“This case is another tragic example of the devastation caused by illicit fentanyl, and it is the third fentanyl distribution case resulting in an overdose death to be sentenced in our district in the past month,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Parman. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify those who distribute these dangerous drugs and hold them accountable when their actions result in the loss of life.”

            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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