A Hopkins County man has been accused of distributing a large amount of the deadly drug fentanyl after an investigation into drug overdoses in that county.
The Madisonville-Hopkins County VICE/Narcotics Unit investigation into multiple fentanyl overdoses, including fatal overdoses, led police to arrest 21-year-old Demario J. Murray, of Madisonville.
He was charged with aggravated trafficking in a controlled substance (fentanyl, 28 grams or more), trafficking in a controlled substance (fentanyl), possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, and using restricted ammunition during the commission of a felony (no shots fired).
According to the narcotics unit, several purchases of counterfeit Percocet pills that contained fentanyl were made from Murray.
The suspect was arrested on Thursday at 425 East Broadway Street in Madisonville where police seized approximately 1,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills, a substantial amount of cash as well as a 9mm handgun.
Murray was lodged in the Hopkins County Detention Center on a $500,000 cash bond.
According to Kentucky Revised Statute 218A.142A: A person is guilty of aggravated trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree when he or she knowingly and unlawfully traffics in: (a) One hundred (100) grams or more of heroin;(b) Twenty-eight (28) grams or more of fentanyl; or(c) Ten (10) grams or more of carfentanil or fentanyl derivatives.
The charge is a class B felony, punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison.
Murray was convicted in June in Christian County for misdemeanor trafficking in marijuana and tampering with physical evidence, according to the Kentucky Department of Corrections. He also has convictions for first-degree wanton endangerment and first-degree criminal mischief for which he was released from prison in September 2020.
He is on parole until July 2027.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
