Ohio Man Sentenced To 16+ Years In Federal Prison For Distributing Fentanyl That Resulted In Overdose Death
- Defendant also ordered to pay funeral costs of juvenile who overdosed
CINCINNATI - Michael Chandler, 29, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 200 months in prison for distributing fentanyl. As part of his sentence, Chandler was also ordered to pay more than $9,000 in restitution to cover the funeral costs for an overdose death that resulted from Chandler’s drug distributing.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett.
This investigation was initiated by the Campbell County, Ky. Drug Task Force and investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hamilton County Heroin Task Force.
Investigators were alerted on April 20, 2016, to a suspected heroin overdose. According to the statement of facts in this case, the overdose was actually caused by the ingestion of fentanyl, which was traced back to Chandler as the source of supply. The next day, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Chandler.
While executing a search warrant at a residence used by Chandler on Lowell Avenue in Cincinnati, investigators discovered nearly 644 grams of fentanyl, 28 grams of cocaine, a handgun, ammunition and other miscellaneous drug paraphernalia.
Chandler was indicted on the six drug distribution charges in June 2016, and pleaded guilty in May 2017.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the Drug Task Force and Criminal Chief Kenneth L. Parker, who is representing the United States in this case. The Hamilton County Heroin Task Force was established in early 2015 by the Hamilton County Association of Chiefs of Police for the purpose of investigating all source dealers of heroin and other opiates that lead to overdoses and overdose deaths.
The Hamilton County Heroin Task Force has agents assigned from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Cincinnati Resident Office, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Cincinnati Police Division, Amberley Village Police Department, Sharonville Police Department, Blue Ash Police Department, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
