INDIANAPOLIS- Jacob Magness, 23, of Bloomington, Indiana, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for possession and distribution of fentanyl and other controlled substances. Magness spent a few days in the Greene County Jail back in August of 2021 on a charge of driving while suspended - a knowing violation with a prior conviction within 10 years.

According to court documents, on November 1, 2021, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service was alerted to a suspicious package with a nonexistent return address coming from California. The package was addressed to Jacob Magness’s Bloomington residence. On November 2, 2021, Indiana State Police examined the package and found it to contain approximately 211 grams of fentanyl pills, 110 grams of counterfeit Xanax pills, and 4 grams of LSD gel. Magness ordered and tracked the drugs via Snapchat.

On November 3, 2021, Bloomington Police Department officers executed a search warrant at Magness’s Bloomington residence. Officers located $2,251 in cash, approximately 20 fentanyl pills, approximately 13 ecstasy pills, approximately 5 grams of cocaine, 11 firearms, and multiple high-capacity magazines.

“Fentanyl traffickers value profits far more than the lives they are putting in danger,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “They will use any means necessary, including the U.S. Postal Service, to satisfy their greed and exploit substance abuse. I commend the work of the USPIS, ISP, and the Bloomington PD in curtailing this defendant and saving lives in the process.”

“What we have here today is a perfect example of what happens when different law enforcement agencies pool their resources and expertise to achieve a common goal to protect the citizens of Indiana from the illegal and dangerous drugs. It is our duty as postal inspectors to go after those individuals who attempt to ship illicit drugs through the US Mail. Our goal to protect the nation’s mail system from criminal misuse was achieved through our partnership with Indiana State Police and Bloomington Police Department.” Rodney M Hopkins, Postal Inspector in Charge, Detroit Division.

USPIS investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by the Bloomington Police Department and ISP. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Magness be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 4 years following his release from federal prison. Additionally, Magness is subject to a $500.00 fine.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Patrick G. Gibson, who prosecuted this case.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage. One kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. 6 out of 10 illegal fentanyl tablets sold on U.S. streets now contain a potentially lethal dose of the drug.

One Pill Can Kill: Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that drug dealers dilute with cutting agents to make counterfeit prescription pills that appear to be Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs.  Fentanyl is used because it’s cheap.  Small variations in the quantity or quality of fentanyl in a fake prescription pill can accidentally create a lethal dosage.  Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of drug poisoning deaths in the United States.  Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies, like Percocet and Xanax.  For example, fake prescription pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These particular pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors.  They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill.  Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they are routinely fake and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late.