EVANSVILLE - A federal grand jury in Evansville, Indiana, returned a superseding indictment charging Arcinial Montreal Watt, 34, and Jazmynn Alaina Brown, 24, both of Evansville, with federal crimes including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury, and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents, during the conspiracy, Watt obtained significant quantities of fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills from an unknown source of supply and stored those pills inside a bedroom he shared with his girlfriend, Brown, at her residence on East Sycamore Street in Evansville. Watt further supplied Brown with fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills that Brown would sell to her own customers.
On Oct. 26, 2021, two children living at that residence - a three-year-old girl and a one-year-old girl - accessed a quantity of fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills stored by Brown inside the bedroom she shared with Watt. Both children subsequently suffered a fentanyl overdose. The three-year-old girl was pronounced dead the following morning, and the one-year-old girl was taken to the hospital, where she was placed on a NARCAN drip. The one-year-old girl survived.
During the investigation, investigators seized over 5,000 fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills, over $30,000 in United States currency, and a firearm. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage. One kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people.
“This did not need to happen. A toddler is dead, and a baby was hospitalized because of the greed and utter disregard for human life displayed by those who traffic deadly drugs in our community," said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The serious charges announced today demonstrate that federal law enforcement and our local partners are determined to hold criminals accountable for pushing poison on our streets."
“Alleged drug traffickers like Mr. Watt and Ms. Brown who are knowingly dealing poisonous and lethal fentanyl must be held accountable for their actions, especially when they show careless disregard for possessing and storing fentanyl pills that resulted in the death of an infant child and the overdose of another child who required life-saving medical intervention to survive the overdose," said Michael Gannon, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge. “DEA remains committed to working hand in hand with our state, local and federal partners to keep our communities safe. DEA commends the outstanding work by the Evansville Police Department, the Evansville Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force, the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana."
“I’d like to express how grateful we are to have federal partners that share an objective of ridding our community and our neighborhoods of these very terrible drugs," said Billy Bolin, Chief of Evansville Police Department. “In this particular incident a child, is no longer with us because of the choices made by adults. Our hearts go out to the loved ones that are left picking up the pieces of this destruction. The message we have is clear, if you choose to deal harmful drugs in our communities and neighborhoods, we will act and bring you to justice. I want to thank the men and women of the Evansville Police Department that responded to this run, The JTF Detectives that spent countless hours on this investigation, and our federal partners for seeing to it that these individuals face the consequences of their actions."
If convicted of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death or serious bodily injury, Watt and Brown face 20 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least 5 years’ supervised release. If convicted of possession with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, Watt faces 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least 5 years’ supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Evansville Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crime Task Force also provided invaluable assistance.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kristian R. Mukoski, who is prosecuting this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
