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Press Release

Two Sentenced for Their Roles in an Opioid Overdose Death

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Oklahoma

United States Attorney Trent Shores announced the sentencing of Jennifer Elizabeth Boyce and Christina Ann Dempsey for their participation in a conspiracy to distribute oxycodone resulting in death. Today, United States District Judge John E. Dowdell sentenced Christina Ann Dempsey to eight years imprisonment for her role in supplying 80mg oxycodone pills (Oxy80s) to Boyce, who then sold the Oxy80s to customers for profit.  Yesterday, Judge Dowdell sentenced Boyce to ten years imprisonment for her role in selling the Oxy80s she received from Dempsey to Jennifer Blake McNulty, who subsequently overdosed and died on October 24, 2014.

Both Dempsey and Boyce accepted responsibility, cooperated fully in the federal investigation, and provided sworn testimony against themselves and others before the filing of federal charges.  The third conspirator is Michael Allen Miers, whose case is still pending before Judge Dowdell. 

U.S. Attorney Shores stated, “Attorney General Jeff Sessions directed United States Attorneys to consider every lawful tool at our disposal to combat the deadly opioid epidemic. We have taken that direction to heart by using all available criminal and civil remedies to stop opioid abuse and distribution in the Northern District of Oklahoma. We are pleased with the sentences in these cases. Illegal opioid distributors must be held accountable in courts of law. It is a matter of saving lives.”

In commenting about the extent of the opioid epidemic nationwide, U.S. Attorney Shores recounted the staggering statistics:

  • Since 2009, drug overdose deaths have outpaced traffic accidents as the leading cause of injury death in the United States.
  • Nearly 64,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2016–more drug related deaths in one year when compared to total number of combat losses during the entire Vietnam War.
  • Emergency Department visits for opioid overdoses rose 30% in all parts of the country from July of 2016 through September of 2017.
  • Life expectancy in the United States dropped for two years in a row after more than a century of steady progress.
  • The number of children admitted to hospitals for opioid overdose has nearly doubled since 2004, according to a study recently published in the journal Pediatrics.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Pryor Police Department, and the Mayes County District Attorney’s Office investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy L. Faerber, the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, and Brian Surber, the First Assistant District Attorney for Mayes County and a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, prosecuted the case.

U.S. Attorney Shores observed, “Collaborative law enforcement is good law enforcement. I want to express my deep appreciation and profound thanks to all the women and men of law enforcement–federal, state, and local–for working together on this investigation. The Mayes County District Attorney’s Office has also been a great partner. The work they did on this case was essential.”

Contact

Lennea Montandon
918-382-2755

Updated August 21, 2018

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Opioids
Prescription Drugs