Four suspects, two of whom were in the U.S. illegally, have been charged in connection with two drug overdoses in Middle Tennessee.
On Wednesday, a federal grand jury in Nashville returned a nine-count indictment against 39-year-old Juan Manuel Morales-Rodriguez, of Tepic, Mexico; 26-year-old Juan Samudio-Castro, of Michoaacan, Mexico; 23-year-old Austin Chase Sneed, and 22-year-old Jacob Allen Beaver, both of Columbia.
Investigators said Rodriguez, Castro, and Sneed were originally charged with the heroin distribution conspiracy in a criminal complaint on March 27. All four were already in custody.
Back in March, at least two people in Maury County died from overdosing on heroin and/or fentanyl.
According to authorities, drugs were ordered over the phone and then distributed by a third-party courier.
The drugs were then sold in public bathrooms in the Franklin, Cool Springs, and Brentwood areas near Interstate 65.
If convicted, they face a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison, up to life and up to a $5,000,000 fine.
