DOJ charges man that was shipping fentanyl between Park City and Las Vegas

Fentanyl found during an investigation in Utah County last year. Photo: Utah County Sheriff’s Office

PARK CITY, Utah — The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged 21-year-old Colin Andrew Shapard for allegedly distributing fentanyl disguised as fake oxycodone pills in Utah.

United States Attorney Andrea T. Martinez, Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jay Tinkler, United States Postal Inspection Service Team Leader Jared Bingham, Park City Police Chief Wade Carpenter, and Summit County Sheriff Justin Martinez announced the charges Wednesday.

Shapard was previously accused of distributing the drugs that resulted in the 2016 overdose deaths of two 13-year-old Treasure Mountain Junior High students.

According to a DOJ press release, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) discovered the opioid shipments between Park City and Las Vegas last year.

They contained fake blue 30 mg. oxycodone pills, which sold for roughly $30-$45 per pill.

Officers said Shapard offered “kickbacks to an individual in Park City for distributing the narcotics.”

In November, DOJ said the man had shipped between 10-30 packages of fake pills to Park City every two weeks over the past several months.

The suspect used encrypted mobile phone apps to arrange the shipments via private delivery services and the U.S. Postal Service.

Inspectors with the Postal Service took pictures of a parcel heading to Park City from the University Post Office in Las Vegas. The inspectors also managed to obtain photographs of the individual who allegedly shipped the parcel, who was later identified as Shapard.

A search warrant was executed on the shipment and 35 blue M30 fake oxycodone pills were discovered with “M” imprinted on one side and “30” on the other side. They later tested positive for fentanyl.

An undercover DEA agent was eventually able to successfully purchase drugs from Shapard.

On February 10, officers with the Park City Fire District and Summit County Sheriff’s Office responded to an 18-year-old male who had overdosed on Shapard’s product.

An analysis of the victim’s urine showed the presence of fentanyl. Authorities later discovered text messages that allegedly showed contact between the victim and the suspect.

Shapard has been charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury and five counts of distribution of fentanyl.

Assistant United States Attorneys, and Special Assistant United States Attorneys from the Utah Attorney General’s Office, are prosecuting the case against Shapard. Special Agents and Task Force Officers from the DEA, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, the Park City Police Department, and the United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation.