Drug Distributor Convicted for Selling Fentanyl that Caused Three Fatal Overdoses

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A Memphis man, Darian Glover, 29, has been convicted by a federal jury for distribution of a controlled substance causing death. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today.

An eyewitness told law enforcement that on June 20, 2024, he saw the male victim, M.P., purchase narcotics from Darian Glover. The eyewitness stated M.P. began making phone calls to Glover in order to buy what M.P. believed was cocaine. The eyewitness stated they got off work around 5:30 PM, and they met Glover at a gas station located on Bartlett Road in Bartlett, TN. Glover walked up to M.P.'s truck and got into the backseat. M.P. and Glover shook hands, which is when the drug transaction occurred. M.P. then drove Glover to a liquor store located on Summer Avenue in Memphis, TN. Glover went into the store and came back to the truck. M.P. then drove Glover to Glover's residence in Memphis, TN.

On June 21, 2024 at 1:51 AM, the Collierville Police Department was dispatched to a residence located in Collierville, TN in reference to a report of a drug overdose. Upon arrival, officers observed the residents of the house performing CPR on two unconscious females on the back porch of the house. Officers also observed an unconscious male lying on the back porch as well. Officers and paramedics then took over CPR on all the unconscious individuals on the scene. Officers and paramedics administered multiple doses of Narcan to all three individuals. Subsequently, all three victims, M.P., L.P., and A.T., did not survive.

On the scene, officers observed a white powdery substance on a dollar bill on the table where the three individuals were seated. The white powdery substance was collected from the scene and sent to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for testing and analysis. The results confirmed that the unknown white powdery substance tested positive for fentanyl.

In addition to the fentanyl, the victims' cell phones were recovered from the scene of the overdose. Upon analyses of M.P.'s cellphone, law enforcement saw text message communication between M.P. and Glover's cell phone number. The communication displayed text messages about M.P. attempting to purchase "toot", which is the street term for cocaine. The conversation started on June 20, 2024 at 2:23 PM and continued until M.P.'s last text message to Glover on June 20, 2024 at 7:24 PM. The victim and Glover's cell phone location data corroborated the eyewitness' version of events. The eyewitness positively identified Glover in a photo lineup as the person who sold M.P. the narcotics.

Per the medical examiner, the immediate cause of M.P.'s and A.T.'s death was fentanyl toxicity, and the manner of death was an accident. The immediate cause of L.P.'s death was fentanyl and alprazolam toxicity, and the manner of death was an accident.

After a four-day jury trial, the jury rendered a verdict of guilty as to three counts of distribution of a controlled substance which resulted in death. Glover faces a sentence of not less than 20 years or more than life in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least three years. The case is set for sentencing on November 13, 2026 before United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Fentanyl distribution cases resulting in death are always heartbreaking, and especially when there are multiple victims. We commend the outstanding investigative work of our federal and local law enforcement partners, and we hope this conviction will achieve some measure of justice for the victims’ families.”

“Drug dealers like Mr. Glover have no regard for human life; often driven by greed, they poison our communities and leave broken families in their wake,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Field Division. “Mr. Glover should expect to feel the full weight of our justice system for his actions that ultimately claimed the lives of three individuals.”

“This conviction highlights the vital role of teamwork among our federal, state, and local partners. Together, we are committed to holding those who bring deadly drugs into our community accountable and protecting our residents from these tragic outcomes,” said Collierville Police Chief Dale Lane.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Collierville Police Department (CPD). Assistant United States Attorneys Wendy K. Caceres, Raven Icaza, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Patricia Sculco, of the United States Army Judge Advocates General's (JAG) Corps, prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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