Overdose death leaves armed fentanyl trafficker in federal prison for nearly 13 years

NEW BERN – A Wayne County man was sentenced Thursday to 155 months in prison and five years of supervised release for armed trafficking in counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl after a victim died of an overdose in July 2022. The judge also ordered that the suspect be released on supervised release to include at least 50 hours of community service aimed at educating youth about the dangers of fentanyl.

On April 11, 2024, Dylan Alexander Jones, age 24, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

“We will bring swift justice to anyone trafficking counterfeit pills laced with the deadly fentanyl, especially when their poison is claiming the life of our neighbor,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “North Carolina sheriffs are prioritizing overdose death investigations like never before and I have a direct line to my office to prosecute them. Our team has trained law enforcement agencies across the District on how to build airtight cases to obtain stiff sentences in federal court. Our sheriffs are doing everything they can to get justice for the victims and keep North Carolina safe.”

“The sentencing of Dylan Jones is a critical step in our ongoing fight against the devastating impact of drug overdose deaths. We stand firm in our pursuit of justice for the victims and their families. I would like to commend our exceptional team for their continued dedication and professionalism in building this challenging business. 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 man at a residence in Teachey. Prior to the deputy’s arrival, a Teachey firefighter on scene confirmed 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 officers seized the victim’s cell phone and analysis of the data revealed 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 stop in Warsaw just hours before his death. In addition, police made three controlled purchases from Jones between September 2022 and November 2022. All of the pills purchased from Jones contained fentanyl. During the third and final purchase, police 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 handgun loaded with 16 rounds of ammunition, fentanyl and more than $1,600 in cash.

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