A Florida man was ordered detained Monday pending trial by U.S. Magistrate Judge Shaniek Mills Maynard, after a federal grand jury in Fort Pierce, Florida., returned an indictment on July 13 charging him with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents, Keyon Lewis, 26, of Vero Beach, Florida, allegedly distributed fentanyl to a man in the parking lot of an Applebee’s Restaurant in Vero Beach.
The man was later found dead on the kitchen floor of his residence by his wife. The United States alleges in the indictment that the fentanyl, Lewis distributed to the man, killed him.
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After law enforcement arrived and confirmed the man was dead, they used his cell phone to order more fentanyl from Lewis.
It is alleged that on November 7, 2021, Lewis, unaware that he was communicating directly with law enforcement, arrived at the decedent’s residence, allegedly bringing additional fentanyl to distribute.
Indian River County Sheriff’s Office immediately arrested Lewis.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Even in small doses, fentanyl can be deadly.
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As little as two milligrams, about the size of 5 grains of salt, can be fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths. Over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
The State of Florida has also seen an exponential increase in overdoses associated with fentanyl. In 2020, more than 6,150 people died from overdoses involving fentanyl and fentanyl analogs in Florida.
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