Couple sentenced to 50 years in prison for fatal fentanyl overdose INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A Kokomo couple has been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a fentanyl dealing operation that resulted in a women’s death. On March 7, 2023, police arrested 25-year-old Dashawn Brown after a traffic stop where police found 60 fentanyl pills and two handguns. At the time, Brown had a low level felony conviction for resisting law enforcement and was prohibited from possessing firearms. While he was incarcerated at Howard County Jail in Kokomo, Brown and 24-year-old Emily Rouse coordinated drug transactions through text messages and recorded phone calls on the jail’s communication system, a release by state police said Monday. On March 10, 2023, Brown directed Rouse to contact one of his fentanyl customers to collect money owed from a previous transaction. The following day, the customer paid the outstanding debt, and Rouse sold her multiple fentanyl pills. That evening, the customer ingested the pills and died from a fentanyl overdose. The release did not identify the customer. Three days later, investigators executed a search warrant at the couple’s home in Kokomo, recovering approximately 95 grams of fentanyl pills, 535 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, a Glock handgun, and roughly $3,015 in cash. Brown was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm, and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Rouse was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. State police say to avoid pills bought on the street. Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of death for adults in the United States. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that drug dealers dilute with cutting agents to make counterfeit prescription pills that appear to be oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs. Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies. For example, state police say fake prescription pills known as M30s imitate oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors. They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill. Crime Resources Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana: 317-262-8477 P3tips app | Apple devices | Google Play ...read more read less