JACKSONVILE – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard today sentenced Trumaine “Lucky” Muller, 34 of Orange Park, to life in federal prison for distributing a lethal dose of fentanyl that resulted in the overdose death of an 18-year old woman.

A federal jury had found Muller guilty on Jan. 16. The jury also convicted Muller of other felony drug offenses and for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on Nov. 9, 2016, Muller sold heroin with traces of fentanyl to Christopher Williams and Tyler Hamilton. Williams and Hamilton provided a portion of the substance to Ariell Jade Brundige, 18, from Orange Park. Brundige, a first time opiate user, snorted what she believed was a small dose of heroin. However, the substance that Muller had sold also had traces of fentanyl, which caused her death early the next morning.

During the ensuing investigation into Brundige’s death, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office made a controlled purchase of heroin and furanylfentanyl from Muller on Jan. 31, 2017. On Feb. 8, 2017, during the execution of a search warrant, officers seized furanylfentanyl and a loaded revolver from his apartment in Clay County.

Christopher Williams and Tyler Hamilton previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter in state court and were sentenced to a year at the Clay County Jail. Both already had served nearly 22 months in jail awaiting trial.

“Families and communities have been ravaged by the opioid epidemic. I commend law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their skillful investigation and prosecution of Trumaine Muller for the overdose death of [Brundige],” said State Attorney Melissa Nelson.

“We appreciate the hard work of everyone involved in this. This is truly teamwork at its finest,” stated Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels.