Authorities say a New Orleans drug deal turned deadly last summer, and now a 35-year-old local man is facing manslaughter charges over it. Prosecutors allege that fentanyl-laced cocaine sold by Larry Webster led to two fatal overdoses in August 2025, with toxicology results tying both deaths to the powerful synthetic opioid. The case has become a stark example of how fentanyl contamination in street drugs is driving sudden, lethal overdoses across the city.
Charges and arrests
Webster was arrested by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, then later indicted by an Orleans Parish grand jury in connection with the two deaths, according to NOLA. Court records reviewed by the outlet show he is charged with manslaughter in the death of Kairo Delay and faces drug-distribution counts linked to the death of Sarah Kozikowski. Authorities say a third customer was hospitalized after taking drugs that later tested positive for fentanyl.
Officials report that Webster was booked in Jefferson Parish, where he is being held without bail, while Orleans Parish records list his bail there at $220,500. The split custody gives a sense of how many agencies are now entangled in a single batch of allegedly tainted cocaine.
Toxicology and local trend
Toxicology testing found that both victims died from multiple drug toxicity that included cocaine and fentanyl, and court documents state that the Jefferson Parish coroner’s office detected carfentanil in at least one of the cases. The pattern mirrors a broader and grim local trend. The Orleans Parish coroner reported that nearly 70% of accidental overdose deaths in 2025 involved fentanyl, with many cases showing a deadly mix of cocaine and fentanyl, according to FOX 8.
Public-health officials warn that fentanyl turning up in stimulants such as cocaine raises the risk for people who do not regularly use opioids and may have no idea they are ingesting a powerful synthetic drug.
Investigation details
Detectives say they linked Webster to Kozikowski through cell-phone records and other evidence, identifying him as the supplier for both victims, according to reporting by NOLA. Two other men, Wendell Jones and William Hicks, were charged separately with attempted or conspiracy to distribute drugs. Court filings show both have pleaded not guilty and are not expected to face manslaughter charges.
Investigators say the probe is still active as they work to determine where the fentanyl contamination occurred in the drug supply chain.
What’s next
Webster has pleaded not guilty in the Orleans Parish case and is expected to remain in custody while prosecutors pursue the manslaughter and related counts. Under Louisiana law, penalties for fatal overdoses can be steep, although his exact exposure will depend on which charges ultimately stick and whether any plea deal is reached.
Community groups and health advocates are pointing back to the coroner’s data as a loud warning about the need for wider access to naloxone and drug-checking tools to prevent more accidental deaths, a concern highlighted in recent coverage by FOX 8.
