USC student took pill and died, now dealer goes to prison, prosecutor says
Years after a University of South Carolina student died of a drug overdose, the man who distributed the deadly pill to her is going to prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Vernon Antwan Martin, a 37-year-old Columbia resident, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for the distribution of fentanyl to a 20-year-old USC student, resulting in her death, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Thursday in a news release.
Neither the U.S. Attorney’s Office nor the Richland County Coroner’s office publicly identified the USC student who died in 2023.
In May 2023, Columbia Police Department officers conducted a welfare check on a woman at a Columbia apartment after family and friends reported that they were unable to contact her, according to the release. Officers found the woman dead in her apartment, and an autopsy confirmed the victim died from a fentanyl overdose, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Law enforcement determined that on May 30, 2023, Martin distributed a counterfeit pill to the victim, which she believed to be Percocet but actually contained fentanyl, according to the release.
“There is always danger in taking prescription pills that are not prescribed to you by a legitimate health care provider,” U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling said in the release. “This case demonstrates how deadly a small amount of fentanyl can be.”
Following the victim’s death, DEA agents conducted a search at Martin’s home, where they found narcotics, a gun and approximately $30,000, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
“This case is a tragic example of the deadly consequences of counterfeit pills,” Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division, said in the release. “The victim thought they were purchasing Percocet, but they were handed fentanyl, a synthetic opioid driving overdose deaths across our nation. The defendant knew exactly what he was selling.”
U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Martin to 240 months in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision, according to the release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Lewis also ordered that Martin pay approximately $19,000 in restitution to the victim’s family, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
This case was investigated by the DEA and Columbia police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case. Information about Martin’s attorney was not available.
“Our officers worked closely with federal partners to investigate this case and ensure the individual responsible was held accountable,” Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said in the release. “We urge the public to understand the serious risk of taking pills that are not prescribed by a legitimate medical provider — just one can kill.”
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