A federal jury convicted Jacob Cotton, a 34-year-old man from Spokane, Washington, on Mar. 25 of distributing fentanyl pills that led to the overdose deaths of two men in Skagway, Alaska.
The case highlights the dangers posed by fentanyl distribution and its impact on small communities. Prosecutors said that between Jan. 1 and Jan. 13, 2023, Cotton conspired to sell and mail about 150 fentanyl pills for distribution in Skagway. The plan involved purchasing the drug at a lower price in Spokane and selling it at a higher price in Alaska due to local scarcity.
Court documents showed that Cotton shipped the pills via the U.S. Postal Service on Jan. 9, with delivery occurring between Jan. 11 and Jan. 12. The recipient then sold the pills locally, including to a 44-year-old man who was later found dead from an overdose on Jan. 14; another victim, aged 28—the individual selling the pills—was found unresponsive on his bathroom floor on Jan. 13 and could not be revived.
Authorities recovered additional fentanyl pills hidden at one victim’s residence during their investigation. Evidence presented at trial included shipment records, digital communications about drug sales, and payment details linking Cotton to the crime.
Cotton was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death as well as distribution resulting in death charges for both victims under federal law enhancements requiring proof that his actions directly caused their deaths. He faces sentences ranging from twenty years to life imprisonment per count; sentencing will be determined by a federal judge at a future hearing after considering statutory guidelines.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska announced the conviction alongside officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division and Skagway Police Department.
The investigation was conducted by DEA offices in Seattle and Anchorage along with local police as part of Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs Task Force (SEACAD). Assistant U.S Attorneys Jack Schmidt and Carly Vosacek are prosecuting this case as part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide effort focused on combating illegal immigration, dismantling criminal organizations, and protecting communities from drug trafficking.
