A 27-year-old Milwaukee man is now facing a possible decades-long prison term after a Fond du Lac County jury found him guilty Friday of first-degree reckless homicide for supplying fentanyl that killed a local woman in December 2024. The verdict capped a six-day trial and, according to prosecutors, fits into a broader push to hold drug dealers responsible when their product proves fatal.
Verdict Follows Six-Day Jury Trial, Prosecutors Say
In a press release cited by WFRV Local 5, prosecutors said they presented evidence that the defendant was the source of the fentanyl that led to the woman’s death in Fond du Lac. Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric J. Toney, one of the attorneys who tried the case, said in the release, “Fentanyl continues to have a devastating effect on our communities, and we will aggressively prosecute those that pedal poison into our community.” Jurors deliberated after six days of testimony before returning the guilty verdict.
Fentanyl Remains A Leading Driver Of Overdose Deaths
Illicitly manufactured fentanyls continue to drive a large share of overdose deaths across the country, even as provisional data showed an overall decline in overdose fatalities in 2024, according to the CDC. That backdrop helps explain why some prosecutors pursue homicide charges when they can link a particular drug delivery to a fatal overdose.
Fond Du Lac Has Pursued Overdose Prosecutions Before
Fond du Lac County prosecutors have repeatedly turned to first-degree reckless homicide charges in overdose cases, arguing the strategy helps protect communities from increasingly potent synthetic opioids, as reported by WISLawJournal. That reporting details several prior overdose-related convictions and sentences secured by District Attorney Toney’s office.
Possible Penalties And Next Steps
Under Wisconsin law, first-degree reckless homicide is a Class B felony that can carry a maximum sentence of up to 60 years in prison, according to legal references from LegalClarity. The court will schedule sentencing after routine pre-sentence procedures and reports are completed.
Prosecutors Say They Will Continue To Press Cases
Prosecutors said the conviction sends a message that dealers who distribute lethal doses of fentanyl can be held criminally responsible, a stance reiterated in the district attorney’s press release cited by WFRV Local 5. A sentencing date had not yet been publicly listed by the district attorney’s office, and the court docket is expected to reflect the next steps as they are set.
