Spokane man accused of supplying fentanyl that led to fatal Butte overdose

BUTTE, Mont. — A judge increased a Spokane man’s bond to $1 million after prosecutors alleged he distributed fentanyl, resulting in a fatal overdose.

Christopher Garofalo was initially charged in District Court on October 16 with three counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute.

Law enforcement officials said while working on a drug investigation in conjunction with the Montana Department of Criminal Investigations on Oct. 10, they found 2,000 suspected fentanyl pills, 30 grams of suspected cocaine and approximately 1 pound of suspected meth in Garofalo’s truck after conducting a search. deposit.

Garofalo was driving the truck when it was stopped by police on Interstate 90 and was placed in handcuffs when police found a suspected methamphetamine smoking device on him.

Garofalo posted $75,000 bail on Oct. 15, but when he appeared for his arraignment last week, he was arrested again over evidence that police said he violated his conditions of release by driving to Spokane.

Prosecutors say Garofalo had a fellow inmate call one of his friends to ask them to pick up his truck, which allegedly contained drugs and money.

Garofalo’s friend and another person tasted the fentanyl powder.

Prosecutors say one of the individuals died of a fatal overdose; the other was put on a ventilator and was recently taken off it.

Additional charges are possible for Garofalo and the other individuals involved in the situation.

During Thursday’s hearing, Judge Kurt Krueger denied a defense request to have Garofalo bonded with a title bond.