Texts Lead to Conviction in Knox Overdose Death

Knoxville News Sentinel USA TODAY NETWORK - TENNESSEE

Knox County prosecutors used a drug dealer’s text messages to prove he sold a fentanyl analogue to a man who overdosed and died.

Anthony Lynn Jordan, 40, was convicted of reckless homicide, possession with intent to sell cocaine, attempted bribery, and possession with intent to sell a controlled substance analogue. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison.

Jordan was hit with the cocaine charge when Knoxville police pulled him over in 2014. He made bond, and while he was out of jail, he sold acryl fentanyl — a dangerous fentanyl analogue — to a man who then overdosed and died, prosecutors said.

Members of a task force that investigates overdoses found text messages showing Jordan sold drugs to the victim. The messages also showed Jordan knew his product was dangerous.

In one message, Jordan wrote, “3people OD off dat yesterday. Das fentnol I got,” prosecutors said. After a Knoxville Police Department investigator confronted Jordan with the messages, Jordan admitted to selling drugs to the victim.

Knox County sheriff’s deputies armed with a search warrant searched Jordan’s home and found more fentanyl analogue, prosecutors said.

“This repeat dealer knew he was selling poison, but he sold it anyway just to make money,” Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen said in a news release.

Jordan, who has four prior felony convictions for selling cocaine, has been identified as a member of the Gangster Disciples street gang.

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