A Hickory man will serve an active prison term of eight to 10 years after pleading guilty to death by distribution of fentanyl during Catawba County Superior Court on Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Kevin O’Neal Carroll, 41, was given the sentence by the Honorable Penn Broyhill, Superior Court Judge from Forsyth County, following the plea.
The defendant will serve his period of incarceration in custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.
The 31-year-old female victim was found deceased at a Hickory apartment complex on September 29, 2023.
Investigation by Catawba County Sheriff’s Office showed that the victim purchased fentanyl from Carroll prior to her death by overdose following phone contact between the two parties.
During a custodial interview with investigators, Carroll admitted to selling fentanyl, a highly poisonous toxin, to support his own drug use and told them that he had supplied the deadly drug to the victim.
The autopsy showed that the victim died from fentanyl and methamphetamine toxicity.
Family members addressed the court about the victim and the circumstances surrounding her death, noting the significance of her loss and the impact it has had on them.
Carroll offered an apology and told the court that he never meant to hurt anyone.
Thirty-sixth Prosecutorial District Attorney Scott Reilly noted the commitment of his office to fight the continuing battle against fentanyl and other illegal substances.
“The District Attorney’s Office remains committed to holding drug suppliers accountable for the tragic consequences of their actions,” Reilly said. “Today’s guilty plea in a death by distribution case demonstrates our dedication to seeking justice for those who have lost their lives due to drug overdoses. We are doing everything we can to combat the massive flow of fentanyl coming from Mexico and ending up in our county, including aggressively prosecuting those involved in selling and trafficking this deadly substance. When someone overdoses, our investigation does not stop there; we will continue to pursue those responsible for supplying these lethal substances.”
Josh Rector investigated the case for the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant District Attorney Howard Wellons prosecuted the matter for the State with aid from Legal Assistant Meredith Scott.