Accused Drug Dealer Indicted After Fentanyl-Laced Heroin Death

TAMPA, FL -- For the first time in Hillsborough County, a federal grand jury has indicted a reported drug dealer on charges of selling fentanyl-laced heroin that led to the death of a drug user.

Corey Damond Smith Jr., 22, of 12703 15th St. N., Tampa, is accused of selling a potentially deadly concoction of heroin cut with the opioid fentanyl, resulting in the death of a drug user.

The charges stem from the Nov. 13, 2017, overdose death of Bradley Dykes, 46.

On that day, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responded to a call of an opioid overdose in the University Mall area. Paramedics administered several doses of Narcan, an antidote to an opioid overdose. However, it was too late. Dykes died.

During their investigation, Hillsborough County Sheriff's detectives learned that Dykes had purchased his heroin from known drug dealer Corey Damond Smith Jr. An autopsy by the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office showed Dykes died of fentanyl intoxication. The medical examiner also tested baggies recovered from the scene that indicated Smith had sold fentanyl to Dykes.

On May 22, Smith was indicted by a federal grand jury. He is being held without bond. He faces a mandatory penalty of life in federal prison.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate that is 100 times more powerful than morphine and substantially more lethal than heroin.

It's most commonly used to treat pain in the terminally ill. But, in the 1980s, underground chemists found a way to produce a highly toxic form of fentanyl known as "white China." This version of fentanyl is cheaper to produce and obtain than pure heroin and amplifies the potency of both drugs, which led drug dealers to begin mixing the two drugs with fatal consequences.

The fentanyl/heroin combination has led to the deaths of thousands of unsuspecting heroin users throughout Florida and has been declared an epidemic by the U.S. Department of Justice.

In reaction to the rising number of fentanyl overdoses in Hillsborough County, the sheriff’s office formed the Heroin Working Group comprised of undercover detectives, intelligence personnel, violent crimes detectives and crime analysts to pinpoint the source of the fentanyl-laced heroin.

In addition to Smith, the investigation led detectives to Jeffrey Rodriguez, 33 of 113 Bush Lane Tampa. Investigators believe Rodriguez is the source of fentanyl-laced heroin that’s been responsible for at least seven non-fatal overdoses in the Town N' Country area.

Undercover detectives made several purchases of fentanyl-laced heroin totaling 6.2 grams from Rodriguez and one of his reported middlemen, Donald Calvin Hatch Jr., 27, of 8930 Rocky Creek Drive, Tampa.

A search warrant was served at Rodriguez' home where detectives seized $23,954 in cash as well as 3 grams of heroin and fentanyl.

Rodriguez was charged April 20 and indicted by a federal grand jury on May 18 for conspiring to distribute fentanyl-tainted heroin among other charges.

He faces a mandatory penalty of life in federal prison.

Hatch was also indicted for selling fentanyl-contaminated heroin and other charges. He pleaded guilty June 6 and his sentence is pending. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.

Images via Hillsborough Sheriff