Fentanyl Delivery Leads to Fifteen-Year Sentence

DA Charme Allen announces that prosecutors in the Felony Drug Unit obtained a fifteen-year sentence against a man who delivered the fentanyl that caused a woman’s death.  Wesley Allen Lacey, 52, was convicted of Second Degree Murder.  In a sentencing hearing today, Judge Steve Sword ordered Lacey to serve fifteen years in the Tennessee Department of Correction.

In a two-day trial in February, Assistant District Attorneys Teddy Ryan and Greg Eshbaugh explained to the jury that on April 2, 2022, emergency medical technicians responded to an overdose call at a motel in Carter.  EMTs administered naloxone to try to reverse the overdose, but life-saving measures were unsuccessful.  Knox County Sheriff’s Office Detective Jeff Neely ultimately interviewed Lacey about the overdose death.  Lacey admitted giving the victim the drugs that killed her.  Lacey had purchased the drugs from another dealer and was aware of overdoses connected to that dealer.  He also stated that while he requested heroin from his supplier, he believed that he had been sold fentanyl.  Despite these warning signs, he delivered the fentanyl to the victim who died after snorting it.

“Fentanyl and it’s analogues have been the number one drug found in overdose deaths in our community since 2016,” said DA Allen. “Our work with the Drug Related Death Task Force aims to reduce the amount of fentanyl coming into Knox County in order to save lives.”

Assistant Victim Witness Coordinator Tracee Smith aided in the prosecution of this case.

If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.