A Selma man is headed to state prison for at least eight years after admitting he sold counterfeit pills that led to the overdose death of a 19-year-old Johnston County woman. Prosecutors say 27-year-old Isaiah Lathomas DaPaul Watson pleaded guilty to death by distribution and now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years and eight months. The victim, Four Oaks resident Alesha Meshaw, died in August 2025 after taking the fake pills.
Sentencing and Plea
On Monday, Watson entered his guilty plea to death by distribution, according to The News & Observer. Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Thomas H. Lock handed down a sentence with a minimum term of eight years behind bars. Prosecutors said the plea followed an investigation that traced a batch of counterfeit "oxy" pills to Meshaw’s death, and an autopsy found fentanyl and carfentanil in her system. "Death by distribution cases present unique challenges for prosecution," Johnston County District Attorney Jason Waller said in a statement cited by the paper.
Criminal History and Arrest
County court records show Watson has a prior record and multiple pending charges; the Johnston County Superior Court calendar lists earlier convictions along with drug- and firearm-related counts. Court documents include 2020 convictions for first-degree burglary, robbery with a dangerous weapon and second-degree kidnapping, and later dockets show the indictment tied to Meshaw’s death. Those filings support prosecutors’ contention that Watson had previous run-ins with the law before the fatal overdose investigation.
Legal Context and Prosecution Challenges
Under North Carolina’s death-by-distribution statute, prosecutors can charge someone when the unlawful delivery or sale of a controlled substance is the proximate cause of a user’s death, and the law outlines specific penalties and aggravating factors. The full statutory language is available at N.C. Gen. Stat.. Waller has noted that building these cases can be difficult, as investigators must connect a particular batch of drugs to a specific fatal overdose.
Family Reaction and Next Steps
The family’s GoFundMe described Meshaw as a "bright soul," and loved ones said her death left a hole in the community, according to The News & Observer. Assistant District Attorney Keith Gordon, who prosecuted the case, said he hoped the sentence would offer the family some measure of solace. Prosecutors added that, with the plea entered and sentence imposed, they intend to continue going after people who traffic deadly, counterfeit pills in the region.
