Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison Following the Fentanyl Poisoning of an Auburn Teenager

Montgomery, Ala. - On October 10, 2024, a federal judge sentenced 23-year-old Jay Quan Adams, a resident of Auburn, Alabama, to 144 months in prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer with the Drug Enforcement Administration's New Orleans Field Division. There is no parole in the federal system.

"Fentanyl is a deadly drug that is destroying lives and devastating families," said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. "This case is a tragic example of the toll the drug is taking on communities right here in the Middle District of Alabama. My office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of anyone selling these deadly pills."

"Yesterday's sentence brings a measure of justice to the victim's family," said Special Agent in Charge Hofer. "Fentanyl is a silent killer that has claimed countless lives, and this case is a reminder of the dangers of the synthetic opioid. We must continue to educate ourselves, and our communities, about the risks associated with fentanyl in hopes of preventing future tragedies."

According to the plea agreement and other court records, on March 26, 2021, law enforcement responded to a report of a teenager found unresponsive in his Auburn home. It was determined that he died as a result of ingesting a pill which, without his knowledge, contained fentanyl. An investigation following the victim's death revealed that he had gone to Adams' Auburn residence the previous night and paid Adams $80. On March 29, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Adams' residence and found numerous pills containing fentanyl. During his plea hearing on May 15, 2024, Adams admitted that he possessed the pills found during the search with the intent to distribute them.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Auburn Police Department investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson prosecuted the case.