Evergreen Reporter

Ethan Parker and Joshua Harvey, both residents of Evansville, have been sentenced for their involvement in a fentanyl trafficking operation. Parker received a four-year federal prison sentence with an additional year of supervised release after admitting to possession and distribution of a tableting machine. Harvey was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

Court documents reveal that between January 1 and April 4, 2022, the two men collaborated to produce and distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl-laced pills in the Evansville area. During February and March 2022, Harvey sold these counterfeit pills in Evansville, Indiana, and Henderson, Kentucky. On March 23, Parker arranged through an encrypted messaging app to sell Harvey 100 fentanyl-laced pills for $350. By April 4, Harvey had approximately 31.9 grams of these pills intended for further distribution.

Parker previously sold a pill press with an Alprazolam imprinting die on August 25, 2021, aware it would be used for manufacturing controlled substances. On April 4, he was found with another pill press and various dies for producing counterfeit fentanyl pills.

"Fentanyl dealers value their profits far more than the lives of our families and neighbors," stated John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. "We must fight to save lives by investigating and prosecuting criminals who exploit the epidemic of substance use disorder to satisfy their own greed."

DEA Assistant Special Agent Michael Gannon commented on the case: "The charges against Mr. Parker and Mr. Harvey were necessary and justified." He praised the investigative work conducted by local task forces in collaboration with DEA agents.

The investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Evansville Police Department resulted in sentences handed down by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young as part of the Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program.

Acting U.S. Attorney Childress expressed gratitude towards Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd S. Shellenbarger for his role in prosecuting this case.

According to DEA data, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal depending on various factors such as body size or tolerance levels—a minute amount capable of fitting on a pencil tip.

"One Pill Can Kill: Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill," warns officials about fake prescription drugs laced with fentanyl now being prevalent across America.