CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A Ruckersville, Virginia man, who dealt heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl even after being incarcerated for his crimes, pled responsible at present to dealing a deadly dose of fentanyl and illegally possessing a firearm.
Michael Watkins Hayer, 41, waived his proper to be indicted and pled responsible at present to a two-count Info charging him with distribution of fentanyl and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
“Fentanyl is in every single place. Merely put, it’s the single deadliest drug menace our nation has ever encountered. In Virginia, the variety of folks dying from drug overdoses is at a report excessive. If we need to forestall fentanyl-related overdose deaths, we should take each alternative to teach our communities about how harmful it’s. Now greater than ever, it’s crucial to carry accountable those that deal deadly doses thereby contributing to fentanyl’s staggering physique rely,” United States Lawyer Christopher R. Kavanaugh mentioned at present. “I’m grateful for the resolve of the Greene County Sheriff’s Workplace and the FBI, who sought to convey justice to these affected by this tragedy.”
“With this responsible plea, Mr. Hayer has lastly accepted duty for his actions,” mentioned FBI Richmond Performing Particular Agent in Cost David C. Lewis. “Fentanyl has the potential to kill simply by contact and it’s far too harmful to be bought on the road. We are going to proceed to work intently with our regulation enforcement companions to establish and assist prosecute those that distribute this harmful substance.”
“We’re at all times glad when a case involving an overdose is delivered to justice and people accountable are held accountable,” Greene County Sheriff Steven S. Smith mentioned at present. “The Sherriff’s Workplace will proceed to companion with different regulation enforcement companies and use each accessible instrument to maintain the residents of Greene County protected.”
In keeping with courtroom paperwork, Hayer started promoting fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine all through each Greene and Albemarle Counties in 2019, in addition to routinely touring to North Carolina to buy medication by the “brick” for resale in Virginia. Hayer used the time period “brick” to discuss with a package deal of fifty particular person doses of fentanyl.
After a buyer overdosed in entrance of him, Hayer started carrying Narcan, an opioid overdose remedy, with him when he bought medication.
On February 18, 2022, Hayer bought a half-brick of fentanyl to a person who ingested the drug and later died of an overdose. Though he left Greene County to keep away from suspicion after this demise occurred, Hayer was stopped by the Virginia State Police whereas dashing in Greene County in April 2022. Throughout the site visitors cease, Virginia State Police searched Hayer’s automobile the place they found 95 grams of methamphetamine, 50 grams of fentanyl, three firearms, and a number of rounds of ammunition. Hayer is prohibited from possessing a firearm as a result of a earlier felony conviction.
Whereas incarcerated on the Central Virginia Regional Jail from April 2022 via June 2022, Hayer continued to promote medication by recruiting each a feminine relative in addition to an ex-girlfriend and instructing them in how you can interact in drug trafficking.
Particularly, Hayer informed them the place to go in North Carolina to satisfy his drug suppliers and the place and who to promote medication to in Greene County.
As well as, Hayer warned each girls of the harmful nature of fentanyl by telling them to not contact the drug with out sporting gloves and to by no means use fentanyl themselves.
The Greene County Sheriff’s Workplace and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melanie Smith and Sean Welsh are prosecuting the case.