Jury convicts Lexington man for heroin, fentanyl distribution

A Lexington man faces a minimum of 20 years in prison after he was convicted by a federal jury of distributing heroin and fentanyl which resulted in the death of a woman.

The jury convicted Christopher Allen, 43, of distribution of heroin and fentanyl resulting in death, conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.

The jury returned the verdict Tuesday after about two hours of deliberation following two days of trial.

According to testimony, in September of 2015, Allen distributed heroin and fentanyl to a Lexington woman who used the drugs, overdosed and died. The woman was found by her boyfriend in her home.

Authorities were able to verify that Allen supplied the drugs to the victim. A toxicologist testified that the woman died as a result of the toxic effects of the heroin and fentanyl. The toxicologist further testified that the victim ingested a lethal dose of fentanyl, three times the normal therapeutic range.

Allen is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 22. He faces a minimum of 20 years in prison and a maximum of life. However, Judge Danny Reeves will impose the sentence after considering the U.S. sentencing guidelines and the federal statutes.

“Trafficking in deadly drugs such as heroin and fentanyl has increased dramatically in Lexington and surrounding communities over the last few years,” said U.S. Attorney Kerry B. Harvey in a statement. “The results have been deadly. Fayette County documented 29 overdose deaths in 2008. By 2015, that number had risen to 137.”

This story was originally published May 19, 2016 at 10:29 AM with the headline "Jury convicts Lexington man for heroin, fentanyl distribution."