Ypsilanti man gets life in prison after selling fentanyl to victim who died from overdose

DETROIT (FOX 2) - An Ypsilanti man, convicted two years ago of selling a man a fatal amount of fentanyl, will spend the rest of his life in prison after being convicted on distribution, conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute.

Adam Dean Brown, 41, was convicted on all three counts in September 2019. The jury received the case after an 11-day trial and he was convicted roughly six hours later on all three counts. 

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's office, police were called to a basement of a home in Canton where a 22-year-old man was dead. Officers found a syringe and packet of what was believed to be heroin. The substance later tested positive for fentanyl and that the man had overdosed.

Investigators determined Brown sold the fentanyl to the man. Brown, who has a previous conviction of drug trafficking, conspired with another man, James Sharp, to distribute drugs including heroin and fentanyl in 2016 and 2017, the attorney said. A third man, Terence Robinson, connected brown to the overdose victim.

As authorities were investigating, Brown sold fentanyl to another man, leading to another overdose and serious injury. The second victim also overdosed on fentanyl and first responders were called immediately by the victim's mother and they were able to revive him.

"This case is an example of the grave threat fentanyl poses to both witting and unwitting users," said Acting US Attorney Mohsin. "We are fully committed to prosecuting individuals who continue to fuel the opioid epidemic in this state and throughout this country. We hope that today’s sentence is a significant step in helping to bring closure to the victim’s family."

Sharp pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute in January of 2019. He received 41 months in prison. Robinson pleaded guilty to the charges as well and received 36 months in prison.