Bryan Walter McMahan, a 41-year-old resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of a Utah woman. The sentencing took place in Salt Lake City, where U.S. District Court Judge David Barlow also ordered McMahan to serve three years of supervised release following his imprisonment and pay $8,888.74 in restitution to the victim’s family.
Court documents revealed that on October 7, 2023, McMahan mailed an envelope from Las Vegas containing at least four pills with fentanyl to the victim in Utah. Over the next several days, he and the victim exchanged text messages as she awaited delivery. The package arrived on October 10, and attempts by McMahan to contact the victim followed. She was later found deceased in her room with the mailing envelope—bearing McMahan’s name and return address—nearby. Law enforcement discovered three blue pills under her body that were confirmed to contain fentanyl.
“A young woman lost her life as a result of reckless criminal conduct, and no amount of imprisonment can change the course of that tragic outcome,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah. “It is important to remember that just one pill can kill. There is no way of knowing what controlled substances are contained in counterfeit pharmaceuticals for sale on the illicit market. My office will continue, along with our law enforcement partners, to vigorously prosecute those who are willing to distribute poison into our communities.”
Miguel Chino, Assistant Special Agent in Charge at the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rocky Mountain Division - Utah Office, stated: “At DEA, our goal is a Fentanyl Free America. Every day, our men and women are confronting drug dealers and the Cartels they’re connected with. Our sincere thanks to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Utah, for prosecuting this case and to our fellow law enforcement partners. We’ll continue to aggressively pursue those who are peddling this poison into our communities.”
Lieutenant Clint Bobrowski from Layton City Police Department added: “Any loss of life in our community is heartbreaking, and our thoughts remain with the victim’s family and loved ones. Our Detectives assigned to the DEA Fentanyl Overdose Death Task Force were committed to uncovering the truth behind this tragedy and identifying those responsible. The Layton City Police Department values our partnership with Federal Law Enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and remain steadfast in our dedication to pursuing justice and holding individuals accountable when their actions contribute to these devastating outcomes.”
The investigation was conducted by both the Drug Enforcement Administration and Layton City Police Department. The prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.
