Federal officials say he sold fentanyl laced counterfeit pills over Snapchat using an alias
HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) – An Evansville man accused of fentanyl dealing using Snapchat will spend 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty.
Federal officials state Jeremial Lee Leach, 20, pled guilty to one count of Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death, one count of Distribution of Fentanyl and one count of Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.
According to court documents, Leach is responsible for dealing fentanyl resulting in at least three overdoses, one of which resulted in the death of a 19-year-old. Documents also state Leach advertised fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills over Snapchat to hundreds of recipients using the alias “Mel.”
Officials state on June 25, 2022, at approximately 12:11 a.m., officers with the Evansville Police Department (EPD) responded to a residence on Wedeking Avenue in reference to the overdose of a woman. She was revived with naloxone. Later the same day, at approximately 10:55 a.m., EPD officers responded to the same residence for the overdose of a 19-year-old, who died. The coroner located a counterfeit oxycodone pill containing fentanyl on the deceased woman. The cause of both overdoses was determined to be fentanyl intoxication.
Officials say investigators searched the deceased victim’s phone and found conversations between her and Jeremial “Mel” Leach in which they discussed a transaction for the purchase of pills they identified as “blues.” Leach gave her his address on Shanklin Avenue and confirmed the price for the sale of the pills.
Officials say on August 20, at approximately 4:15 p.m., EPD officers were dispatched to a restaurant located on Hirschland Road concerning an overdose. Upon arrival, officers found a woman sitting on the ground in the parking lot of the restaurant, not alert and beginning to lose consciousness. Officials say an officer administered naloxone and, a short time later, the woman began to regain consciousness. The woman reportedly told first responders and medical personnel that she had taken a 30mg tablet of oxycodone. Leach was identified as the supplier of the pill and the location of the purchase as a residence on Shanklin Avenue.
Another month later on October 11, officials say investigators with the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force observed Leach conduct two apparent drug deals at his residence. They say the buyersleft separately in a Kia Optima and a gold Hyundai Tucson. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement stopped both vehicles after observing traffic violations. During the stop, investigators reportedly found three blue pills marked “M30” inside the Kia and six blue pills marked “M30” inside the Tucson. One of the boys in the buyer’s car later claimed that his dealer’s name was “Mel.”
Later that day, officers executed a search warrant at Leach’s residence on Shanklin Avenue. Officials state Leach exited the front door and was taken into custody by detectives. Some of the items located and seized during the search included 33 blue pills marked “30,” a digital scale, two 9mm pistols,and approximately $1,843 in cash.
Officials say thepills seized during the two traffic stops and from Leach’s residence were submitted for laboratory analysis and tested positive for the presence of fentanyl.
“This young woman should be alive today. Mr. Leach pushed deadly poison over social media, ending a teenager’s life far too early, and risking many more,” Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana said. “Fentanyl traffickers commit their crimes with utter disregard for the lives of our friends and neighbors or the harm they cause to families in our community. I commend the outstanding work of the DEA, the Evansville Police Department,the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force, and our federal prosecutors to secure some measure of justice for the victims of this fentanyl dealer.The sentence imposed here should serve as a warning: these poisons kill—and selling them will earn you decades in federal prison.”
“The sentence imposed on Mr. Leach is righteous and justified. Mr. Leach utilized social media platforms to advertise the sale of fentanyl and continued distributing the poisonous fentanyl even though it had already caused fatal and near fatal overdoses. The DEA would like to extend their deepest condolences to the Duncan family and all families who have lost a loved one to a fentanyl poising,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Mike Gannon. “DEA remains committed to working hand in hand with our state, local and federal partners in order to keep our communities safe. DEA commends the outstanding work by the Evansville Police Department, The Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force and the United States Attorney’s Office.”
The DEA, Evansville Police Department, and the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force investigated the case. Leach was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young. Leach will also be under supervised released for five years after release.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Kristian Mukoski and Todd S. Shellenbarger, who prosecuted this case.
