Overdose Death Gets Armed Snapchat Fentanyl Trafficker Nearly 13 Years in Federal Prison

NEW BERN, N.C. – A Wayne County man was sentenced today to 155 months in prison and five years of supervised release for armed trafficking of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl after one victim died of an overdose in July 2022.  The judge also ordered that the defendant’s supervised release include at least 50 hours of community service focused on educating youth about the dangers of fentanyl. On April 11, 2024, Dylan Alexander Jones, age 24, pled guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

“We are bringing swift justice against anyone trafficking counterfeit pills laced with deadly fentanyl, especially when their poison claims one of our neighbor’s lives,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “North Carolina’s Sheriffs are prioritizing overdose death investigations like never before and have a direct line to my office to prosecute them.  Our team has trained law enforcement across the district on building airtight cases to secure firm sentences in federal court.  Our Sheriffs are going the distance to get justice for victims and keep North Carolina safe.”

“The sentencing of Dylan Jones is a pivotal step in our ongoing fight against the devastating impact of drug overdose deaths. We stand firm in our commitment to justice for the victims and their families. I want to commend our exceptional team for their relentless dedication and professionalism in building this challenging case. Together, we are making strides toward a safer community,” said Duplin County Sheriff Stratton Stokes.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, on July 22, 2022, deputies with the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) responded to a 911 call regarding an unresponsive male at a residence in Teachey. Prior to the arrival of the deputy, a Teachey firefighter on scene confirmed that the victim was deceased. A post-mortem toxicology report confirmed the presence of fentanyl in the victim’s system and the cause of death was determined to be fentanyl toxicity.

Law enforcement recovered the victim’s cell phone and an analysis of the data showed that the victim had received pills from an individual using a Snapchat account associated with Jones. GPS data from the victim’s phone and Jones’ phone show that they met at a rest area in Warsaw just hours before his death. In addition, law enforcement made three controlled purchases from Jones between September 2022 and November 2022. All of the pills purchased from Jones contained fentanyl. At the third and final buy, law enforcement arrested Jones. Jones was armed with a handgun at the time of his arrest, and a search of his vehicle resulted in the seizure of a 9mm pistol loaded with 16 rounds of ammunition, fentanyl and over $1,600 in cash.

Michael F. Easley, Jr. U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The DCSO, the Carolina Beach Police department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Lemons  prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:23-CR-00114-FL.

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