NORFOLK, Va. – Eugene Tillery was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 18 on seven counts of distributing fentanyl, a strong pain killer used in the medical field.
From November 14, 2015 to December 2, 2015, the DEA and Suffolk Police did a series of controlled purchases from Tillery.
The agents thought they were buying heroin from Tillery, but they discovered it was fentanyl after testing it in a lab.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, says even small amounts of fentanyl can kill someone.
“There is a disturbing trend across the nation, including here in the Tidewater area, of heroin dealers adding fentanyl to their heroin to increase the potency. As a result, we have seen an alarming increase in overdoses, many of which have resulted in death,” Boente said.
Suffolk Chief of Police Thomas Bennett said the city has seen an increase in heroin and fentanyl overdoses.
If he is convicted, Tillery faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The maximum statutory sentence will be determined by Congress.
