Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Our spring member drive has ended, but it's not too late to give. You have the power to help fund the essential journalism that keeps us all informed. Help us close the gap on our spring fundraising goal! GIVE NOW

Alleged Drug-Ring Leader Pleads Not Guilty In Opioid Death

Alleged drug-ring leader pleads not guilty in opioid death
safemedicines.org

  A Utah man accused of running a multimillion operation selling powerful opioids disguised as prescription drugs has pleaded not guilty to new charges filed in an overdose death.

Court records show Aaron Michael Shamo entered the plea Tuesday. Prosecutors say a person identified as R.K. died in June 2016 after taking fentanyl Shamo sold disguised as the less-powerful drug oxycodone.

Defense attorney Greg Skordas has called the counts "incredibly disappointing and unjustified."

Shamo is accused of making the pills in his suburban basement and selling them on the internet's dark web to people all over the country, at one point raking in $2.8 million in less than a year.

Prosecutors have struck plea deals with others accused in the drug ring. A trial is set for Jan. 22.