An Independence, Missouri, man has been charged by a federal grand jury with distributing fentanyl, according to an announcement on May 6. Mark A. Foster, age 32, was indicted on April 15 for distribution of a controlled substance. The indictment was unsealed after Foster’s initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge.
The charge is connected to an overdose death in Jamesport, Missouri. Court documents state that a Jackson County medical examiner determined the cause of death for the victim was “fentanyl and mitragynine toxicity.”
Authorities said the charges are accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence must be presented to a federal trial jury responsible for determining guilt or innocence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh is prosecuting the case following investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Northwest Missouri Drug Task Force; and Daviess County Sheriff’s Office.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, described as “a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.” The initiative coordinates efforts from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri supports community outreach programs addressing violent crime and drug trafficking issues across its jurisdiction from Iowa to Arkansas borders and works in collaboration with various law enforcement partners according to its official website.
