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Fentanyl-related deaths result in federal prison sentence for Detroit man

CBS News Live
CBS News Detroit Live

(CBS DETROIT) - A Detroit man was sentenced Tuesday to 23 years in prison over fentanyl-related deaths, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Eastern District of Michigan announced.

Melvin Lamar Triplett was found guilty after a jury trial in September on drug conspiracy and delivering drugs causing death and serious bodily injury. 

Acting U.S. District Attorney Julie A. Beck, along with Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Agency Detroit Field Division, explained the details of the case in their announcement.  

The case involved the overdose deaths of two people; along with a non-fatal overdose to a third person. The conspiracy charge related to a trafficking conspiracy that lasted for months, "leading up to the distributions that resulted in the charged overdoses." 

Evidence at trial showed that Triplett led a drug trafficking operation that sold to an established customer base. The distribution of fentanyl-laced crack cocaine in November 2022 caused multiple overdoses, the district attorney's office said. The lethal drugs were traced to Triplett, whom officials said was a previously convicted drug dealer. 

Law enforcement agencies assisting on this case included Dearborn Heights Police Department, Livonia Police Department and Garden City Police Department. 

"We will continue to aggressively pursue those who deal drugs and cause death in our community," Beck said. 

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