Greybull man gets 15-20 years in prison for supplying drugs that led to death by overdose

A Greybull man has been fined the maximum $10,000 and sentenced to 15 to 20 years in prison for providing the Fentanyl-laced drugs that resulted in the Jan. 2, 2023, death of former Greybull resident Jordan Jackson.

The sentencing hearing for Anthony M. Fuentes was held Thursday afternoon in Park County District Court in Cody, with Judge William Simpson presiding.  Lasting more than six hours, the hearing included emotional testimony from the family and friends of both the victim and the defendant

Last December in Big Horn County, Fuentes, 35, was sentenced to three to five years in prison after pleading no contest to two felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (fentanyl), two felony counts of delivery of a controlled substance (fentanyl) and a high misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance.

As that case ended, prosecutors in Park County leveled a new set of charges against Fuentes, alleging manslaughter and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance.  The manslaughter charge was the more serious of the two, alleging his actions “did recklessly kill a human being.”

Fuentes eventually entered an Alford plea to the manslaughter charge. An Alford plea is a guilty plea in which a defendant maintains their innocence but admits that the prosecution’s evidence would likely result in a guilty verdict if brought to trial. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop the conspiracy charge, which set the stage for Thursday’s hearing in Cody.

Special Agent Shane Reece of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation testified for the state, which was represented by Park County Attorney Jack Hatfield.  He detailed how investigators used Jackson’s cell phone to set up another drug deal with his supplier “Pop Tart” — later identified as Fuentes — and arrested him when he entered his truck to retrieve the cash that Jackson had left for him.

Reese testified that Fuentes had gone to the Denver area to purchase the Fentanyl-laced pills, about $1 per tablet and then marking them up 4,000%.  For the two Fentanyl-laced Oxycodone pills that he purchased the night before his death, Jackson paid $80.  When questioned by authorities, Fuentes admitting to selling the drugs to Jackson, but maintained that he did not know that they contained Fentanyl. 

Brenda Armstrong, Jordan’s mother, was the first to provide a victim’s impact statement on Thursday. The day before would have been Jordan’s 27th birthday. She told the court she spent the day at the cemetery.  She recalled her son’s short but very meaningful life— his contagious smile, his warm-hearted nature, his talent on the basketball court, his passion for music, to name just a few.

Turning her attention to Fuentes, Armstrong said the courts may not classify it as a murder, but that’s what he essentially did when he provided “poison” to her son.  She called him a “coward” for never taking responsibility for her son’s death, an apparent
reference to the Alford plea as opposed to a straight guilty plea.

While acknowledging her son was in the wrong for buying the drugs, Armstrong said he “did not ask to die” and was in the process of getting his life on track, noting that he held a full-time job, had his own apartment, was paying his bills and making plans for his life.

“All that was stripped away from him in the blink of an eye,” she said.

Armstrong said her life hasn’t been the same since, detailing the emotional toll its taken on everyone.

Her husband Shannon Armstrong, Jordan’s stepfather, also testified, telling Fuentes he “deserves the worst mankind can hand down to you.”  He described his 12-year relationship with Jordan as “a gift,” saying, “I’m a better person for it.”

Michelle Horn, Park County victim witness coordinator, read dozens more victim’s impact statements that were provided by Jordan’s family members and his classmates, teachers and coaches at Greybull High School.

Christine Cherni, the attorney who represented Fuentes, introduced several people who testified on behalf of her client, including his mother, his wife and their daughter, two brothers-in-law and a minister who has seen positive changes in Fuentes during his incarceration.

Through their testimony, a different portrait of Fuentes emerged — that of a hard-working man who cared deeply for his family, but made a horrible mistake when he began selling drugs.  Several stated that he has shown remorse in their private conversations with them, is benefitting from counseling
and believe that he is determined to live a law-abiding life when he emerges
from jail.

When given the opportunity to speak, Fuentes said that he now understands the danger of selling drugs and that upon his release, he plans to be an advocate for those struggling with alcohol and drug addiction. “I want to be on the side that’s fighting against it,” he said.

To Brenda Armstrong, Fuentes said he was “truly sorry” for her loss. “I apologize with my deepest remorse for the pain you have endured,” he said.  “I’ve prayed for the forgiveness of my sins and repented.

“I pray for peace and healing for the Jackson family.”

Fuentes proceeded to ask the court for leniency, saying his kids and family need him in their lives.

In his closing argument, Hatfield argued for the maximum sentence of 18 to 20 years, emphasizing that Fuentes was surely aware that he was selling Fentanyl and even did so out of his home, putting everyone including his own children at risk.

Cherni, meanwhile, continued to ask for leniency. She cited a case in Washakie County in which a defendant who supplied drugs that resulted in a woman’s death was not charged with manslaughter. To the contrary, she said that person was given a suspended sentence and currently is out on probation.

Before announcing his sentence, Judge Simpson acknowledged that one side or the other would no doubt find fault in it, calling it an extremely difficult case.  He said he knew many people who, when faced with financial hardship, worked their way through it by legitimate means, taking on extra jobs rather than turning to a life of crime. “We live in a world of easy fixes -- everyone wants it now,” he said. “But life doesn’t work that way.”

Simpson sentenced Fuentes to  15 to 20 years in  prison, to run concurrent with the three- to five-year sentence that resulted from the Big Horn County case, along with a $10,000 fine, which was more than the $7,000 recommended by the two attorneys.

“Jordy is never going to have a family, kids, a house, a job ... his life is over,
but you still have a life,
Mr. Fuentes, and you should be thankful for that,” said Simpson. 

“To all of you, I wish you didn’t have to go through this. I wish you didn’t have to experience this pain.  If I could turn back the hands of time, I would go back to a time when Jordy was playing basketball and
Mr. Fuentes was leading a clean life.”