Oshkosh man gets 20 years for dealing fatal doses of fentanyl

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – An Oshkosh man has been sentenced to two decades in federal prison for dealing a powerful painkiller that caused four overdose deaths in the Fox Valley.

Desmond T. Burns, 40, appeared in federal court in Green Bay for a sentencing hearing.

The United State’s Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin says Burns was dealing an “especially potent” form of the opioid fentanyl. Law enforcement determined that the drug was responsible for four overdose deaths in the summer of 2017.

“Our hearts are heavy with the reality of four lives lost because of the fentanyl the defendant sold,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Krueger. “The dangers of fentanyl cannot be overstated. Just a quarter of a milligram of fentanyl can be fatal. Yet fentanyl is regularly being trafficked in Wisconsin, causing hundreds of overdose deaths each year. This lengthy sentence should send a clear message: Anyone dealing a deadly poison like fentanyl can face decades in federal prison. We are committed to working with federal, state, and local partners to prosecute fentanyl trafficking aggressively. We commend the excellent partnership among the law enforcement agencies that brought this case to justice.”

Chief U.S. District Court Judge William Griesbach sentenced Burns to 20 years in federal prison and 10 years on extended supervision.

The case was investigated by New London Police, Appleton Police, Neenah Police and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office.