JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. — One of four people who were indicted two years ago in connection with the fentanyl overdose death of a 19-year-old woman in Jefferson County was sentenced to prison time Tuesday.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Missouri, a district judge on Tuesday sentenced William Martin, 23, to 22 years in prison for selling the fentanyl that killed a 19-year-old woman in Jefferson County two years ago. He must also pay restitution to her family to cover funeral costs.
Three others were initially indicted in connection to the fatal overdose for supplying the lethal dose to Martin.
Steven Littler, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl. He is serving a 210-month prison sentence. Jacqueline Williamson, 34, who pleaded guilty to a fentanyl distribution charge, was sentenced to 72 months. Tanisha Payne, 23, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, was sentenced to time served, according to the press release.
On June 23, 2022, Martin and the woman met on an Arnold Walgreens parking lot for a drug deal. She got inside her BMW and he sold her fentanyl. The woman had an overdose and Martin "took the incapacitated teen and concealed her upside down in the backseat of her locked car," according to the release.
When the woman did not come home that day, her father started to look for her. That's when he found her inside her car early that following morning.
Martin admitted to police that he could have called 911 or taken the woman to a hospital, but he did not.
During the investigation, police found several pieces of evidence that connected Martin to the woman's fatal fentanyl overdose:
- Surveillance video showed the woman getting into a BMW with Martin.
- The same BMW with the driver, identified as Payne dropped Martin off at a nearby gas station. A car search found a safe with fentanyl, hallucinogens, prescription drugs and drug paraphernalia.
- Text messages revealed Martin's knowledge of how strong the fentanyl he sold was and how there was a risk of overdose. He still sold fentanyl after the woman's death.
Police found Martin hiding behind a nearby supermarket with a loaded pistol. He was later indicted in connection to the woman's death. Littler, Williamson and Payne were added to the indictment on Oct. 5, 2022.
Martin pleaded not guilty that year to five felonies, including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl with a resulting death, distribution of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to court documents.
Court motions said Littler and Williamson supplied Martin with fentanyl on several occasions, including the dose that killed the woman in June. The motions were filed to hold Littler and Williamson in jail until trial.
Littler and Williamson also faced charges of distribution of fentanyl with a resulting death and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
Williamson also faced charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute meth and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, according to court documents.
When Williamson was arrested, investigators found fentanyl, meth and drug paraphernalia in her St. Louis home. Payne also had fentanyl and drug paraphernalia when she was arrested, according to the release.
Littler and Williamson admitted supplying fentanyl to Martin and Payne. Littler had been selling the drug to Martin for several months, according to Martin's plea agreement. Littler said he told Martin his fentanyl was “deadly strong” and “dangerous.”
Michael A. Davis, Special Agent in Charge and head of DEA’s St. Louis Division, said overdose deaths are the tragic consequence of someone's greed and lack of regard for human life.
"With drug overdose deaths at historic highs, DEA will work relentlessly to destroy the criminal networks pouring dangerous drugs into our communities, so that they can longer cause harm to families," Davis said.
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