Burl Washington Press Release (Conviction)

June 20, 2008
For Immediate Release

MINERAL AREA MAN CONVICTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES OF DISTRIBUTING FENTANYL AND OXYCODONE RESULTING IN A DEATH

St. Louis, MO: Burl Washington was convicted of charges of distributing drugs which resulted in a death, United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway and Ste. Genevieve County Prosecuting Attorney Timothy Inman announced today.

“Testimony at trial revealed that Mr. Washington is a manipulative drug dealer that abused the Medicaid system to procure these prescription drugs, and then he sold them to drug abusers on the street for profit. One of these sales resulted in the tragic overdose death of Justin Knox,” said Hanaway.

“I appreciate all the hard work and cooperation of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Mineral Area Drug Task Force, the Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Department, the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department and the cooperation of the various witnesses in obtaining this conviction. The Federal conviction will result in a much greater jail term for Mr. Washington than had he been prosecuted in the State courts,” said Innman.

BURL WASHINGTON of the Mineral Area, was convicted of one felony count of distribution of Fentanyl with death resulting, one felony count of distribution of Oxycodone with death resulting, one felony count of distribution of Fentanyl and one felony count of possession with intent to distribute Fentanyl. The five-day trial was held before United States District Judge Catherine D. Perry.

Each count of distribution resulting in death carries a penalty range of 20 years to life in prison; distribution of Fentanyl carries a maximum penalty of 20 years prison; and possession with intent to distribute Fentanyl carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Each count also carries the possibility of fines up to $1 million. Sentencing has been set for September 12, 2008.

In addition to Prosecuting Attorney Inman, Hanaway commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Missouri State Highway Patrol Mineral Area Drug Task Force and the Ste. Genevieve and St. Francois County Sheriff’s Departments for their investigation of this case and Assistant United States Attorneys Tiffany Becker and Jim Delworth, who prosecuted the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI CATHERINE L. HANAWAY United States Attorney	NEWS RELEASE
For further information: Call Public Affairs Officer Jan Diltz at (314) 539-7719
June 20, 2008 For Immediate Release MINERAL AREA MAN CONVICTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES OF DISTRIBUTING FENTANYL AND OXYCODONE RESULTING IN A DEATH St. Louis, MO: Burl Washington was convicted of charges of distributing drugs which resulted in a death, United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway and Ste. Genevieve County Prosecuting Attorney Timothy Inman announced today. “Testimony at trial revealed that Mr. Washington is a manipulative drug dealer that abused the Medicaid system to procure these prescription drugs, and then he sold them to drug abusers on the street for profit. One of these sales resulted in the tragic overdose death of Justin Knox,” said Hanaway. “I appreciate all the hard work and cooperation of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Mineral Area Drug Task Force, the Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Department, the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department and the cooperation of the various witnesses in obtaining this conviction. The Federal conviction will result in a much greater jail term for Mr. Washington than had he been prosecuted in the State courts,” said Innman. BURL WASHINGTON of the Mineral Area, was convicted of one felony count of distribution of Fentanyl with death resulting, one felony count of distribution of Oxycodone with death resulting, one felony count of distribution of Fentanyl and one felony count of possession with intent to distribute Fentanyl. The five-day trial was held before United States District Judge Catherine D. Perry. Each count of distribution resulting in death carries a penalty range of 20 years to life in prison; distribution of Fentanyl carries a maximum penalty of 20 years prison; and possession with intent to distribute Fentanyl carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Each count also carries the possibility of fines up to $1 million. Sentencing has been set for September 12, 2008. In addition to Prosecuting Attorney Inman, Hanaway commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Missouri State Highway Patrol Mineral Area Drug Task Force and the Ste. Genevieve and St. Francois County Sheriff’s Departments for their investigation of this case and Assistant United States Attorneys Tiffany Becker and Jim Delworth, who prosecuted the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.