PHOENIX, Arizona – A man from Tucson, Arizona has been sentenced to six years in prison for providing fentanyl pills that led to the fatal overdose of a teenager in the Phoenix area. Michael Fox, 29, sold three pills to a 16-year-old girl from Glendale on June 29, 2019. Shortly after taking the pills, the girl was found unresponsive and was rushed to the hospital, where she tragically passed away on July 1, 2019 after suffering a cardiac arrest related to a fentanyl overdose. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be from the fentanyl pills sold by Fox. In September 2021, Fox was indicted and he pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl in April 2022. Following a two-day evidentiary hearing, the district court ruled that the fentanyl sold by Fox directly caused the teen’s death, resulting in enhanced sentencing standards.

This case marks the first time in Arizona that a fentanyl dealer has been held responsible for an overdose death and led to a unique sentencing process. United States Attorney Gary Restaino explained that it was the first time that a lengthy evidentiary hearing with scientific testimony on fentanyl was a part of the sentencing process. As a result, Fox was sentenced to 72 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona appreciated the partnership with the DEA in sending a strong deterrence message and expressed thanks to the victim’s family for their support of the prosecution throughout the process.