Two Carfentanil Dealers Sentenced to Prison

Two men who possessed and sold counterfeit carfentanil pills were sentenced today to a total of more than 11 years in federal prison. According to court documents, the men used shared darkweb marketplace accounts to purchase counterfeit oxycodone pills.

Both men pleaded guilty to carfentanil and marijuana distribution. One of the two pleaded guilty to an additional firearm charge. One received a 52 month prison sentence and the other was sentenced to 85 months in prison.

Two Men Sentenced to Prison for Several Drug Crimes

Cameron James Lensmeyer, age 20, and Evan Paul Sage, age 20, both from Waverly, Iowa, received the prison terms after their May 2018 guilty pleas.  Lensmeyer pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute carfentanil and marijuana.  Sage pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute carfentanil, cocaine, and marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

In a plea agreement, Lensmeyer admitted that he and Sage purchased hundreds of purported prescription pills, including purported oxycodone and alprazolam pills, through a “dark web” marketplace.  Evidence at an earlier hearing showed that, during a search of Lensmeyer’s and Sage’s shared Cedar Falls residence in June 2017, investigators seized

• over 800 blue pills that appeared to be prescription oxycodone pills;
• over $20,000 in cash;
• over 30 grams of cocaine;
• over 600 grams of marijuana;
• a loaded .32 caliber handgun. 

Later testing determined that most of the blue pills contained carfentanil, while a smaller amount contained another synthetic fentanyl called cyclopropyl fentanyl.  Carfentanil is a powerful narcotic that is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl.  It is not approved for use by humans, but is used as an elephant tranquilizer.

Lensmeyer and Sage were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade.  Lensmeyer was sentenced to 52 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  Sage was sentenced to 85 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Both men are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.

Source: DOJ

Earlier: Two Men Charged for Several Drug Crimes

Cameron James Lensmeyer, age 20, and Evan Paul Sage, age 20, from Cedar Falls, Iowa, have each been charged with one count of possessing with intent to distribute carfentanil, as well as other drugs. Sage has also been charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.­ The charges are contained in an Indictment unsealed on February 9, 2018, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.

The Indictment alleges that, on or about June 30, 2017, Lensmeyer possessed with intent to distribute carfentanil and marijuana. It further alleges that, on the same date, Sage possessed with intent to distribute carfentanil, marijuana, and cocaine, and that he possessed a firearm in furtherance of those drug crimes.

Evidence at a detention hearing held on February 13, 2018, showed that, in June 2017, the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force conducted a search of Lensmeyer’s and Sage’s shared Cedar Falls residence. During the search, investigators seized over 800 blue pills that appeared to be prescription oxycodone pills (depicted below), over $20,000 in cash, over 30 grams of cocaine, over 600 grams of marijuana, and a loaded .32 caliber handgun. Later testing determined that the blue pills contained carfentanil. Carfentanil is a powerful narcotic that is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl. It is not approved for use by humans, but is used as an elephant tranquilizer.

Source: DOJ