Show-Me State Times

A man who supplied the fentanyl that led to the death of a 19-year-old in Jefferson County, Missouri has been sentenced to 22 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry. William Edward Martin, 23, was also ordered to pay restitution to the victim's family for her funeral expenses.

According to reports, Martin met the victim at a Walgreens in Arnold, Missouri, where he provided her with fentanyl. Tragically, the victim was found dead the following morning after being concealed in her locked car by Martin.

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Colin Dickey, of the Drug Enforcement Administration operations in Eastern Missouri, expressed the difficulty of the investigation, stating, "This investigation was particularly tough as nothing could be more tragic than a parent finding their child dead." Dickey emphasized the dangers of illicit fentanyl, noting its destructive impact on families.

The case also involved other individuals involved in the distribution of fentanyl. Steven “Lemon” Littler and Jacqueline Williamson admitted to supplying fentanyl to Martin and another individual involved in the case. Littler, who had been selling fentanyl to Martin for months, warned of the potency of the drug, referring to it as "deadly strong" and "dangerous."

Littler pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl, receiving a 210-month prison sentence. Williamson, who was found with fentanyl and methamphetamine in her St. Louis home, was sentenced to 72 months. Tanisha Payne, who was also arrested in connection with the case, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and received a sentence of time served.

The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Arnold Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the St. Louis County Police Department. The sentencing of the individuals involved in the distribution of fentanyl serves as a reminder of the severe consequences of trafficking dangerous substances.