Raleigh man receives concurrent life sentences for heroin overdose death, conspiracy

Jayson McNeil, 28, was sentenced for distribution of heroin and fentanyl resulting in death of a person and conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. He was also given 30 years for possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, and 10 years imprisonment for possession of a firearm by a felon. In addition, McNeil was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $20,826.64 for the victim’s funeral expenses.

McNeil was convicted, following a four-day trial, on Jan. 28. According to a press release from the US Attorney for the Eastern District of NC, the evidence at trial showed that McNeil operated a long-standing heroin organization in the city of Raleigh, distributing heroin and fentanyl to numerous individuals – resulting in multiple overdoses.

The overdoses culminated on May 30, 2018 with the overdose death of a 27-year-old man in the Raleigh area. The man, an expectant father, had struggled with addiction to powerful opiates. The deadly dose was provided to him by McNeil, officials said.

“I join the Court in the message it clearly expressed today – anyone that is a heroin dealer, particularly those who cut it with fentanyl, is playing with death," said Robert J. Higdon Jr., US attorney for the Eastern District of NC. "Mr. McNeil was fully aware of the deadly power of the substance he was distributing – indeed, he had his own personal wakeup call when he overdosed. He knew that his customers were overdosing.

"Undeterred by either, he continued to show zero regard for this community by spreading this poison on our streets. As the Court stated, ‘Death is fundamentally different, when it is fundamentally preventable. Mr. McNeil will have a lifetime in federal prison to reflect upon this.

"I was proud to stand with the victim’s family in court today. They have endured the nightmare shared by some 70,000 families a year whose loved ones are taken from them by drug overdoses, many involving opioids like fentanyl. Drug dealers, like Mr. McNeil, and the drug abuse they fuel are devastating families and robbing North Carolina of the potential and promise of our citizens. So long as this continues, we will continue our fight.”