Longview man gets 20 years in prison for fentanyl overdose

LONGVIEW, Texas ( KETK ) – A Longview man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after he admitted to selling pills that led to a fentanyl overdose, according to U.S. Attorney Damien Diggs.

Don Paul Rickman, 39 of Longview, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker sentenced him to serve 20 years in federal prison on Thursday.

According to a press release from Diggs, Rickman reportedly admitted to selling purported prescription pills that were later found to be laced with fentanyl. A person he sold to was then found dead in their bedroom from a fentanyl overdose by their mother.

“The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a public safety alert warning Americans of the alarming increase in the lethality and availability of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. The public safety alert coincides with the launch of DEA’s One Pill Can Kill public awareness campaign to educate the public of the dangers of counterfeit pills and urges all Americans to take only medications prescribed by a medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist.”

U.S. Attorney Damien Diggs

Rickman’s case was investigated by the DEA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Longview Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek served as prosecution.

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