A Cleveland man was indicted in federal court on Wednesday for selling drugs that caused the fatal overdose of a man inside a downtown hotel in July.
35-year-old Terry Lee Christian faces one count of distribution of controlled substances, which included a potential sentencing enhancement for causing death. He was also indicted on one count of using a phone to facilitate a felony drug offense.
Christian was arrested Monday and remains in custody.
Cleveland Police responded to the call of a drug overdose at a hotel room on July 14. Officers found a bag of suspected cocaine on the dresser and suspected cocaine residue on the dresser and bathroom vanity, according to an affidavit filed in the case. The narcotics were tested and found to be a mixture of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl.
The packaging material was tested and DNA found on the package matched Christian, according to the affidavit.
A review of the victim’s phone and other evidence revealed the man who overdosed met with Christian on July 13 and several calls between them on that day. Shortly after the calls and meeting, the man who overdosed made a hand-to-hand transaction with someone in a minivan, according to the affidavit.
This case was investigated by the Cleveland Division of Police and Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vasile Katsaros.
“This case is yet another reminder that any drug people are buying likely contains fentanyl, which can kill even in very small doses,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said in a statement. “By all accounts, the victim in this case believed he was buying cocaine, not opioids. This epidemic is cutting across all demographics and people need to understand there is no safe amount of drugs that can be used recreationally.”
