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Heroin dealer indicted as overdose victim's sister speaks out

Sophia Schmidt, Delaware Public Media
US Attorney David Weiss speaks about the indictment Wednesday

The U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware has announced a federal indictment in an opioid-related case that resulted in the death of a Newark man.

 

 

U.S. Attorney David Weiss says Robin Cintron-Pratts is being charged for playing a role in distributing fentanyl-laced heroin, some of which authorities claim led to the overdose death of twenty-eight-year-old Joel Davis in February of last year.  

 

If convicted, Cintron-Pratts would face decades in prison.

 

Weiss says conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute which causes the death of another person carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a minimum of 20 years incarceration.

Investigators believe they have traced the supply chain up to Cintron-Pratts, who allegedly distributed tens of thousands of bags containing heroin and some containing fentanyl in spring 2017.

Four others allegedly involved in the supply chain have been indicted separately. Michael Wilson, Robert Owens, Abdoulaye Diallo and James Briggs have all plead guilty to drug-related charges.

 

 

A stamp inside the baggie of the drugs Davis overdosed on read “Tasty." Investigators used this stamp to trace the drugs up the chain of supply.

 

Weiss is calling Robin Cintron-Pratts the source of the fentanyl-heroin mixture that killed Davis, but notes he is likely not the top of the supply chain for the ingredients.

“Fentanyl is manufactured. So it comes from China, perhaps from Mexico, so typically there are further sources of supply," he said.

 

Weiss noted that Joel Davis was one of 345 who died of an overdose in Delaware in 2017.

“A growing percentage of these deaths are attributable to fentanyl," he said. "A synthetic opioid that is fifty times more potent than heroin.”

 

Sadie Davis is Joel Davis' sister. She says she’s grateful for the indictment— and notes not many families get to see steps taken toward justice.

“It really helps find some, not really closure, but it just helps that our brother’s death is not for nothing. That these consequences are being given,” she said.

 

She says although her brother is gone, she hopes to give him a voice by advocating for families affected by opioids.

 

“With this opioid epidemic, it is so important that these things are being taken care of, our voices are being heard,” said Davis.

 

Agencies form new overdose task force for Delaware

 

U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware David Weiss also announced a new taskforce Wednesday which will formalize collaboration between his office, the US Drug Enforcement Agency, and state, county and local police departments.

 

The First State Overdose Taskforce plans to investigate more cases like this one.

“Cases in which we will see if we can identify a source of supply and then pursue federal prosecution,” said Weiss.

Weiss says although the local, state and federal teams are already working together, the new taskforce will provide a formalized structure and more training.

“It’s just a little more of a process, more of a structure," said Weiss. "And with our partners downstate, Dover and Delaware State Police, and I suspect there are going to be further from Sussex County, we’re extending our reach. Because we’ve got to address what’s going on in the southern part of the State of Delaware.”

 

Davis also says she plans to present to the new taskforce, and share the perspective of the victim’s family. She says she hopes to coach law enforcement officials in making initial phone calls to family members.

“Just to be empathetic and know that that person on the other line is losing a part of their heart,” she said.

 

Sophia Schmidt is a Delaware native. She comes to Delaware Public Media from NPR’s Weekend Edition in Washington, DC, where she produced arts, politics, science and culture interviews. She previously wrote about education and environment for The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, MA. She graduated from Williams College, where she studied environmental policy and biology, and covered environmental events and local renewable energy for the college paper.
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