The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan announced today that James Smith, also known as “Yola,” and Patrick Martin, both from Kalamazoo County, have pleaded guilty to federal drug charges in connection with an April 2023 mass fentanyl poisoning in Kalamazoo County, which led to at least six deaths.
Earlier today in open court, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker accepted the guilty pleas from Smith and Martin, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“What Kalamazoo experienced in April 2023 is a snapshot of the crisis we confront across America, driven by fentanyl, and snatching the lives of even first-time users with no idea they’re consuming this deadly poison,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten.
“While we’ll never prosecute our way out of this crisis, today marks an important first step toward justice. This investigation is ongoing, and I encourage anyone with information to come forward. Now is the time.”
In his guilty plea, Smith admitted to the following facts outlined in his plea agreement: Between April 12 and 13, 2023, a series of drug-induced overdoses in and around Kalamazoo, Michigan, resulted in multiple hospitalizations and several deaths.