Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Selling Fentanyl That Killed One Woman, Hospitalized Another
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Thursday sentenced a man who sold the fentanyl that killed one woman and sent another to the hospital in one day in 2019 to 14 years in prison.
Zachary Hovis, 24, provided fentanyl to an 18-year-old woman in the parking lot of a country club in Weldon Spring, Missouri, on Nov. 16, 2019. The victim, who was Hovis’ close friend, drove to the parking lot of a nearby business, where she was found unconscious about an hour and 15 minutes later. She died despite a bystander’s attempt to administer naloxone. A medical examiner later determined that the immediate cause of the victim’s death was fentanyl intoxication.
Later that day, Hovis supplied fentanyl to another person who reported that she thought she was buying the painkiller oxycodone. That woman later went to the hospital, believing she was overdosing. She was treated and released.
In court Thursday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Becker said Hovis advertised drugs for sale on social media, posted pictures of his cash profits, reached out to the 18-year-old offering drugs on the day that she died and continued to sell drugs after the death of his friend.
“The sentencing of a man who dealt drugs and killed someone brings some justice to the victim’s family and friends,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Colin Dickey, head of Drug Enforcement Administration operations in Eastern Missouri. “Overdose death cases are difficult to prove. Fortunately, we have great partners like the St. Charles County Drug Task Force and other state and local partners, and this kind of end result is our reward for the hard work.”
Hovis pleaded guilty in June in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two counts of distribution of fentanyl.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Charles County Drug Task Force investigated the case.
