A Las Vegas woman, Danielle Partington, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and four years of supervised release for selling fentanyl-laced pills that resulted in a fatal overdose. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II. Prosecutors had recommended a 144-month prison term.
According to court records, from fall 2019 through January 2020, Partington supplied pills to the victim on several occasions. On January 20, 2020, the victim contacted Partington to purchase more pills. She then worked with a co-conspirator to deliver 80 fentanyl-containing pills to the victim. Three days later, on January 23, the victim died from an overdose caused by those pills.
Partington pleaded guilty on March 7, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid significantly more potent than heroin or morphine and can be deadly even in very small amounts. It is currently the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 45.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua Brister and Edward Penetar prosecuted the case.
Acting United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Deputy Special Agent in Charge Anthony Chrysanthis for DEA’s Los Angeles Division announced the sentencing.
“Illicit fentanyl is a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Just two milligrams, about the size of a few grains of salt, can be lethal. It is the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 45, and it kills at an unprecedented rate.”
The DEA has initiated a public awareness campaign called One Pill Can Kill aimed at educating people about counterfeit pill dangers and prevention strategies. More information can be found at https://www.dea.gov/onepill.
