Judge sentences fentanyl dealer who caused overdose death to life in federal prison | USAO-EDMO

ST. LOUIS –Gerald E. Cardwell, Jr., 50, of O’Fallon, Missouri was sentenced these days to existence imprisonment for Distribution of a Managed Material (Fentanyl) Resulting in Loss of life.  Cardwell was convicted by a jury in November 2021 of distributing fentanyl to Ryan Leahy, also of O’Fallon, in July 2019.  Leahy was identified deceased in a home at the Hollywood On line casino Resort.  

Evidence presented at trial disclosed that Leahy had picked Cardwell up from the Hollywood Casino Lodge on the night time of July 25, 2019.  In the early morning several hours of July 26, 2019, Cardwell gave Leahy a mixture of fentanyl and Adderall, sending textual content messages to a third-get together witness that Leahy was unconscious in the car.  Surveillance video obtained from Hollywood On line casino Resort depicted Cardwell, Leahy, and the witness enter the hotel shortly prior to 2 a.m. The third occasion remaining approximately ten minutes later on, leaving Cardwell and Leahy in the hotel home.  Cardwell departed at 10:00 the next early morning.  Housekeeping staff members located Leahy deceased in the room at roughly 3:15 that afternoon.  The St. Louis County Health care Examiner’s Place of work established that Leahy died of fentanyl and ethanol intoxication.  On the other hand, two authorities testified that the Leahy’s blood alcoholic beverages content at the time of his loss of life was .03.  According to the Health care Examiner, that compact total of alcoholic beverages could not have induced Leahy’s demise.

United States District Decide John A. Ross called the proof in opposition to Cardwell “overwhelming,” and described his carry out as “unconscionable.”  Judge Ross specially pointed out that Leahy was possibly dying or now lifeless at the time Cardwell still left the resort place with no summoning aid, leading him to question Cardwell as to how he could have deserted Leahy, who Cardwell experienced regarded for a long time. Cardwell, who refused to make a statement, did not react.  Judge Ross also puzzled aloud how Cardwell could keep on to offer fentanyl right after Leahy’s dying, proof of which was introduced at trial.

Choose Ross specially recommended the attempts of Detective Sergeant Kendra Household and the entire Maryland Heights Police Department, commenting that regulation enforcement could have only dismissed Leahy’s demise without the need of investigating it.  Rather, Choose Ross mentioned, the Maryland Heights Law enforcement worked diligently to ascertain who was accountable for providing fentanyl to Leahy and that Cardwell was correctly held accountable. 

“The sentence imposed now on Mr. Cardwell must provide as a crystal clear message.  The demise and destruction prompted by people distributing fentanyl has no boundaries and should be punished appropriately,” mentioned United States Legal professional Sayler Fleming.  “The excellent investigative efforts of the Maryland Heights Law enforcement Section was a big section of the achievements of this prosecution.  I hope the lifetime sentence been given by Mr. Cardwell presents some solace to the Leahy family.” 

“Opioid dependancy and related overdose deaths are a tragedy that impacts all communities, and all amounts of society. Our police division will take these instances quite severely and we do every thing we can to determine the persons liable and maintain them accountable,” stated Chief Invoice Carson. “The detectives involved in this situation, Sgt. Kendra Household and Cpl. Nick Anthon, place a huge amount of get the job done into this investigation. We worth the partnership that we have with the U.S. Attorney’s Business, and we extremely much value their willingness to prosecute these cases”.