Clay County drug dealer sentenced to life in prison for teen's overdose death

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — A federal judge sentenced a 34-year-old Clay County drug dealer to life in prison Monday for the death of a woman who overdosed on fentanyl.

Trumaine "Lucky" Muller was convicted for distributing a lethal dose of fentanyl that resulted in death in January, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He was also convicted of other felony drug offenses and possession of a firearm by a felon.

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Muller is one of three men who were arrested in May 2017 in the overdose death of 18-year-old Ariell Brundige, according to the Clay County Sheriff's Office.

Federal prosecutors say Christopher Williams and Tyler Hamilton bought what they thought was heroin from Muller, but it was actually fentanyl.

Williams and Hamilton gave some of the drug to Brundige, who then snorted what she thought was a small dose of heroin, according to court records. Prosecutors says she was a first-time opiate user.

PHOTOS: 3 arrested after 18-year-old overdosed on fentanyl

The drug deal happened about 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 9, 2016, according to court records, and Brundige died about 4:45 the next morning.

Deputies bought heroin and furanylfentanyl from Muller during the Sheriff's Office investigation into Brundige's death and later found furanylfentanyl and a loaded gun in a Clay County apartment where he had been living, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

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Furanylfentanyl is similar to fentanyl but not as potent.

Court records show both Williams and Hamilton pleaded guilty to manslaughter in state court.

Authorities say it's the first time in Clay County that someone has been convicted of murder in a drug overdose death.

Cox Media Group