An Auburn man will spend the next twelve years in federal prison after selling a counterfeit pill containing a fatal dose of fentanyl to a local teenager.
Jay Quan Adams, 23, was first arrested for the overdose in March 2021.
“Fentanyl is a deadly drug that is destroying lives and devastating families,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “This case is a tragic example of the toll the drug is taking on communities right here in the Middle District of Alabama. My office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of anyone selling these deadly pills.”
Special Agent in Charge Hofer also emphasized the life-altering effects of the illicit substance.
“Yesterday’s sentence brings a measure of justice to the victim’s family,” said Special Agent in Charge Hofer. “Fentanyl is a silent killer that has claimed countless lives, and this case is a reminder of the dangers of the synthetic opioid. We must continue to educate ourselves, and our communities, about the risks associated with fentanyl in hopes of preventing future tragedies.”
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According to the plea agreement and other court records, on March 26, 2021, law enforcement responded to a report of a teenager found unresponsive in his Auburn home. It was determined that he died as a result of ingesting a pill that, without his knowledge, contained fentanyl. An investigation following the victim’s death revealed that he had gone to Adams’ Auburn residence the previous night and paid Adams $80.
On March 29, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Adams’ residence and found numerous pills containing fentanyl. During his plea hearing on May 15, 2024, Adams admitted that he possessed the pills found during the search with the intent to distribute them.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Auburn Police Department with assistance from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson prosecuted the case.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
