Feds Indict Cleveland Man On Charges That He Sold Fentanyl To Overdose Victim

CLEVELAND, OH —A 24-year-old Cleveland man has been indicted on federal charges that he sold furanyl fentanyl to another man in Cleveland who later died of an overdose, authorities said on Thursday. Derek Hamilton was charged in a 10-count indictment with distribution of fentanyl that resulted in a death, possession of heroin and cocaine, firearms offenses and other crimes.

Hamilton sold the fentanyl on Aug. 2, 2016, and that the drug resulted in an overdose death one day later, according to the indictment. He also possessed heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and a mix of cocaine and fentanyl on Aug. 9, 2017.

“Opioids have caused a staggering amount of pain and death across our state, particularly in Cuyahoga County,” said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman in a statement.. “We will continue to seek long prison sentences for people who sell heroin and profit off this epidemic.”

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The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa T. Darden and Justin Seabury Gould following an investigation by the DEA and Cleveland Division of Police.

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