A Montgomery man was convicted Thursday by a federal jury on charges of distributing a controlled substance resulting in death and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Ross.

Lawrence Coley, III, 37, was found guilty after a trial that revealed his involvement in supplying fentanyl to a man who was found dead in his vehicle on August 26, 2022. The victim was discovered unresponsive in a truck parked at a Montgomery residence. The vehicle’s ignition was on, and the doors were locked. Upon arrival, law enforcement found no visible signs of trauma. A medical examiner later determined that the cause of death was the toxic effects of fentanyl, with the amount in the victim’s system being four to five times the lethal dose.

An investigation into how the victim obtained the fentanyl revealed that, for over a year, Coley had been supplying the victim with illegal narcotics. These transactions occurred almost daily and sometimes even multiple times a day. The jury also heard testimony verifying that the victim purchased narcotics from Coley on the very morning of his death. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Coley’s residence and found 70 blue pills with “M” marked on one side, and “30” on the opposite side.

The pills’ color and markings made them look like pharmaceutical oxycodone tablets. However, lab tests determined the pills were counterfeit and contained fentanyl instead of oxycodone. When officers arrested Coley during a traffic stop, they found him in possession of five additional counterfeit fentanyl pills.

In finding Coley guilty, the jury determined that the fentanyl sold by Coley to the victim caused his death and that Coley intended to distribute the fentanyl pills in his possession.

RELATED: North Alabama man faces life in prison for trafficking 13 ounces of fentanyl

“Counterfeit pills containing fentanyl have become commonplace in Alabama and throughout the United States,” said United States Attorney Ross. “Everyone should assume that any pill that does not come from a doctor or pharmacy may contain a fatal dose of fentanyl or another deadly drug. My office is committed to holding accountable individuals who sell these dangerous pills.”

“The top priority of the Drug Enforcement Administration is to hold accountable those individuals and drug trafficking organizations who poison our communities with deadly drugs like fentanyl,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer. “Today’s conviction is a step forward in our mission to build teams that save lives and make communities safer. While we celebrate this victory, we must remember the tragic death caused by the callous disregard for human life exhibited by this individual. The conviction sends a clear message: those who choose profit over people will be held accountable.”

Following this conviction, Coley faces a sentence of 20 years to life in federal prison. A sentencing hearing for Coley will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, a federal district court judge will determine Coley’s sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and the Alabama Attorney General’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon W. Bates and Christopher P. Moore are prosecuting the case.