Fentanyl dealer Colin Shapard linked to Park City deaths pleads not guilty in federal court

Images of UNLV student Colin Shapard sending shipments at the University Post Office in Las Vegas. Photo: US District Court Utah.

SALT LAKE CITY — 21-year-old Colin Shapard, formally charged with six drug-related offenses, including the distribution of fentanyl that killed two Park City teenagers in 2016, pleaded not guilty in Federal court on Thursday.

After being accused of distributing the drugs that resulted in the 2016 overdose deaths of two 13-year-old Treasure Mountain Junior High students, Shapard was connected to distributing fentanyl disguised as fake oxycodone pills in Utah.

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

After an investigation and his arrest, Shapard appeared in court on Thursday, pleading not guilty.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Gadd stated that Shapard should remain in custody and centered his argument around the allegation that Shapard manufactured pills using fentanyl and disguised them to appear like pharmaceutical oxycodone pills.

Federal Public Defender Tessa Hansen submitted to the prosecution’s motion that Shapard remain detained and refused to accept the version of events put forward by the government.

Magistrate Judge Jared Bennett ordered Shapard to be held in custody until the resolution of the case. The parties are scheduled to reconvene in court towards the end of May.