Fentanyl Overdoses Lead To Arrest
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Matthew Croy
WATER VALLEY – A multi-agency investigation led to the arrest of a Water Valley man suspected of selling counterfeit oxycodone pills believed to contain fentanyl, a dangerous drug that is linked to a surge in overdoses across the country.
Yalobusha County Sheriff Jerimaine Gooch reported Matthew Croy, 27, was arrested on Friday, Feb. 4 at his residence on Jones Street by deputies, agents with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN) and officers with the Water Valley Police Department. Croy was charged by MBN agents with possession of a schedule II controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
Water Valley Police Chief Jason Mangrum added that the arrest was made as the agencies executed a search warrant at the residence.
Both the chief and sheriff reported they received complaints about pills purchased at the residence that were linked to non-fatal overdoses.
“Some of the victims were hospitalized, we had multiple people in the community reach out to us about the seriousness of what he was selling,” Gooch told the Herald.
“I received word that there were some overdoses in Lafayette County that were attributed to pills that came from him,” West said.
MBN was contacted to assist with the investigation and a plan was formulated to move as fast as possible. The plan included making a controlled drug purchase at the residence and then obtaining a search warrant. The warrant was executed around 8:30 p.m. on Friday.
Gooch reported 26 dosage units of the alleged counterfeit pills were seized, along with four ounces of marijuana and over $1,300 in cash. The pills will be sent to the state crime lab for analysis.
The sheriff added that there has been an uptick in fentanyl-related overdoses in the county, mirroring a trend across the country.
“Deputies were dispatched to Tillatoba on January 28 for a suspected fentanyl overdose. And then next morning they were dispatched to another suspected fentanyl overdose outside of Water Valley,” Gooch said. Both victims survived.
Mangrum warned that some of the pills are being passed as legitimate prescription pain pills.
“They are pressed to look like prescription pills. But they contain fentanyl, which can be lethal,” the chief said.
A report from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in September noted that counterfeit pills are made to look like prescription opioids – such as oxycodone, hydrocodone and alprazolam; or stimulants like amphetamines – but contain fentanyl or methamphetamine. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.
The report stated that criminal drug networks are mass-producing the fake pills and falsely marketing them as legitimate prescription pills to deceive the American public. The counterfeit pills are widely available and are more lethal than ever before.
According to the DEA, Mexican oxy is the name of one of the counterfeit oxycodone containing fentanyl pills. The blue pills are stamped with “M” on one side and a “30” on another, resembling Oxycodone Hydrochloride 30 mg pills, but they actually contain fentanyl.
Chief Deputy Thomas West reported that fentanyl users in cases the department works often are people who do not have a lengthy history with substance abuse.
“It appears that problem stems more from opioid abuse, people hooked on pain pills who may go to illicit sources. They think they are taking oxycodone,” West explained.
“Most of these, in my experience, are opioid users who are having trouble getting a prescription,” Mangrum added. “Or they have been opioid users so long that their tolerance is very high, and oxycodone doesn’t have an effect on them.”
Croy is currently incarcerated in the Yalobusha County Detention Center awaiting bond. Mangrum reported that Croy was out on bond from an earlier arrest on December 30 when he was charged with possession of a schedule II controlled substance. The chief said the earlier arrest came when agents with the U.S. Marshals Task Force were at the Jones’ Street residence searching for an escaped inmate and discovered pills.
“City officers responded to assist and arrested Croy,” Mangrum explained.
Gooch also reported three people have been arrested in connection with the Jan. 24 burglary of Dunn’s Country Store. Christopher Chase Pruett was arrested on Jan. 26 and charged with commercial burglary. Brianna Shelton, Pruett’s girlfriend, was charged with accessory after the fact for the burglary. Pruett and Shelton live on County Road 50 in the Boat Landing Community.
Matt Thornton of Batesville was charged with possession of stolen property and felon in possession of a weapon. Thornton was arrested near Long Branch and items reported stolen from the business were located in his vehicle.
Gooch reported entry was gained through the roof at the store and restaurant that is located west of Water Valley on Hwy. 32. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on Jan. 24 and was reported by store employees at 4 a.m. the next morning.
The sheriff said that the owner reported cash and cigarettes were taken during the burglary. He also said that Shelton was an ex-employee at Dunn’s, which was an critical link as authorities determined early in the investigation that someone had inside knowledge about the business. Gooch added that footage from a surveillance camera in the vicinity helped with the investigation.
“We were able to determine that Pruett was a person of interest early in the investigation,” Gooch told the Herald.
Deputies searched throughout the day Tuesday and into the early morning hours Wednesday before he was stopped for a traffic violation at 1:15 a.m. on I-55.
“We were familiar with his travel patterns,” West added about locating Pruett.
Pruett was also charged with possession of a controlled substance after deputies found approximately two ounces of methamphetamine in his vehicle during the traffic stop on I-55.
Gooch reported a fourth person of interest was detained during the investigation. He also said additional arrests are expected.
“We have evidence that indicates there were more people involved in the actual burglary,” Gooch explained.
