United States of America v. Virgil Wardlow

Manhattan, New York criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Distributing Fentanyl In Exchange For Sex With A Minor.

Bronx Man Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Distributing Fentanyl In Exchange For Sex With A Minor And Causing The Death Of A 19-Year-Old Victim

VIRGIL WARDLOW was sentenced to 15 years in prison for paying for commercial sex with a minor using fentanyl-laced pills that caused the death of a 19-year-old victim. WARDLOW previously pled guilty to one count of distribution of narcotics before by U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil.



U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: "The consequences of the defendant's conduct are heart-wrenching: The defendant paid for sex with a 16-year-old victim using fentanyl-laced pills, which the victim's 19-year-old friend then ingested, poisoning her and causing her death. Today's sentence sends a powerful message to those who traffic deadly drugs to vulnerable victims and demonstrates that this Office will seek justice for families facing the horrific tragedy of losing a loved one to fentanyl poisoning and for victims of child sexual exploitation.”



According to court filings and statements made in court proceedings:



WARDLOW engaged in a pattern of paying for commercial sex with black market pills that contained fentanyl. On or about March 25, 2023, at a hotel room in the Bronx, New York, WARDLOW provided two of those pills to a 16-year-old female ("Victim-1”) in exchange for sex with Victim-1. After WARDLOW had sex with Victim-1 and WARDLOW left the hotel room, Victim-1 and her 19-year-old female friend ("Victim-2”) ingested the pills provided by WARDLOW. Thereafter, Victim-1 became ill, and Victim-2 became unconscious and died of a drug poisoning.



Between at least on or about February 8, 2023, and on or about April 24, 2023, WARDLOW exchanged several messages with other individuals in which WARDLOW offered to provide pills in exchange for sex or money. WARDLOW sent these messages using an anonymized cellphone number that masked his identity from his intended victims.

Defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 5 years in prison