A Montgomery man was convicted today on federal charges that he sold fentanyl to a man who died after using the drug the same day.

Lawrence Coley III, 37, was convicted on charges of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute the illegal drug, said Middle District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ross.

Court documents did not identify the victim.

On Aug. 26, 2022, Montgomery police responded to a report of an unresponsive person inside a vehicle at a Montgomery home. When they arrived, they found a truck in the driveway with the ignition still on and the doors locked.

A man was dead inside the truck.

A medical examiner concluded that the victim died due to the toxic effects of fentanyl.

Ross said the jury heard expert testimony stating that the quantity of fentanyl found in the victim’s blood was four to five times the lethal dose.

An investigation into how the victim obtained the fentanyl revealed that, for over a year, Coley had been supplying the victim with illegal narcotics.

The transactions occurred almost daily and sometimes even multiple times a day.

The jury also heard testimony verifying that the victim purchased narcotics from Coley on the very morning of his death.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for Coley’s residence and found 70 blue pills with “M” marked on one side, and “30″ on the opposite side.

The pills’ color and markings made them look like pharmaceutical oxycodone tablets.

However, lab tests determined the pills were counterfeit and contained fentanyl instead of oxycodone.

When officers arrested Coley during a traffic stop, they found him in possession of five additional counterfeit fentanyl pills.

In finding Coley guilty, the jury determined that the fentanyl sold by Coley to the victim caused his death and that Coley intended to distribute the fentanyl pills in his possession.

“Counterfeit pills containing fentanyl have become commonplace in Alabama and throughout the United States,” Ross said.

“Everyone should assume that any pill that does not come from a doctor or pharmacy may contain a fatal dose of fentanyl or another deadly drug. My office is committed to holding accountable individuals who sell these dangerous pills.”