Two Men Plead Guilty in Fentanyl Poisoning Case That Killed Six

James Smith and Patrick Martin, both from Kalamazoo County, pleaded guilty to a fentanyl poisoning event that caused at least six deaths.Photo byRobert VergesononUnsplash

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan announced today that James Smith, also known as “Yola,” and Patrick Martin, both from Kalamazoo County, have pleaded guilty to federal drug charges in connection with an April 2023 mass fentanyl poisoning in Kalamazoo County, which led to at least six deaths.

Earlier today in open court, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker accepted the guilty pleas from Smith and Martin, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

“What Kalamazoo experienced in April 2023 is a snapshot of the crisis we confront across America, driven by fentanyl, and snatching the lives of even first-time users with no idea they’re consuming this deadly poison,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten.

“While we’ll never prosecute our way out of this crisis, today marks an important first step toward justice. This investigation is ongoing, and I encourage anyone with information to come forward. Now is the time.”

In his guilty plea, Smith admitted to the following facts outlined in his plea agreement: Between April 12 and 13, 2023, a series of drug-induced overdoses in and around Kalamazoo, Michigan, resulted in multiple hospitalizations and several deaths.

Smith, a cocaine dealer, according to the department, distributed the drugs that caused these overdoses and fatalities. On April 12, 2023, Smith sold what he believed to be cocaine, but was actually fentanyl, to Martin.

Martin then distributed the fentanyl to others, resulting in a fatal overdose. Despite the overdoses, Smith continued selling cocaine afterward, the department stated.

“Fentanyl-related deaths continue to claim lives at an alarming rate in communities across Michigan and throughout the United States,” said Orville Green, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of the DEA.

“Working in partnership with our federal, state, and local partners, DEA is determined to hold individuals like James Smith and Patrick Martin accountable.”

Smith faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, and Martin faces a maximum sentence of 4 years. Both are scheduled to be sentenced on February 6, 2025.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in Michigan, at least 2,931 people died from drug poisoning in 2023.