A former Los Angeles Angels baseball govt was sentenced to 22 years in jail Tuesday after he was convicted of offering fentanyl-laced drugs that contributed to the demise of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.
Eric Kay, 48, was convicted in February of distributing medication resulting in demise and possession of medicine with intent to distribute in reference to the overdose of Skaggs, who was discovered lifeless in a Southlake, Texas, resort room on July 1, 2019.
Kay, the previous communications director of the Anaheim, California-based workforce for which Skaggs threw, was eligible for a 20-year sentence, however life was additionally a chance, based on federal prosecutors who introduced their case to U.S. District Court docket in Fort Price.
He was sentenced by U.S. District Choose Terry R. Means.
“We’re very grateful to everybody who labored so arduous to analyze and prosecute Eric Kay,” Skaggs’ household mentioned in an announcement. “As we speak’s sentencing is not concerning the variety of years the defendant acquired. The true subject on this case is holding accountable the people who find themselves distributing the lethal drug fentanyl.”
Cody L. Cofer, Kay’s lawyer, mentioned the previous Main League Baseball govt will enchantment.
“Mr. Kay will instantly file his discover of enchantment and proceed to combat the allegations,” he mentioned by e mail. “This was a tragic circumstance. Our hearts break for Tyler Skaggs’s household.”
Throughout sentencing proceedings, prosecutors offered jailhouse calls and emails during which Kay confirmed little regret, mocked the deceased and his household, and even criticized the looks of jurors.
“I hope folks notice what a bit of sh– he’s,” prosecutors mentioned Kay instructed his mom about Skaggs in a recorded name. “Properly, he’s lifeless, so f— ’em.”
Prosecutors allege he additionally known as Skaggs’ household “white trash” and alleged they have been within the chance the pitcher’s demise may create cash making publicity.
“They might get more cash with him lifeless than he was taking part in as a result of he sucked,” Kay is quoted as saying by prosecutors.
In addition they accused the defendant of describing jurors as chubby and “sloppy, toothless, and unemployed.”
Authorities mentioned Kay’s telephone revealed that Skaggs had texted him the night time earlier than his demise with a request he drop by his room with drugs.
The workforce was within the Dallas-Fort Price area for a four-game collection with the Texas Rangers, based mostly in close by Arlington.
Prosecutors mentioned Kay instructed a witness he visited Skaggs that night time. They mentioned the chief dealt drugs, together with the “blue boys” that contributed to Skaggs’ demise, to a number of gamers at Angel Stadium.
Among the many former Angels gamers who testified Kay offered drugs have been Matt Harvey, C.J. Cron, Mike Morin, and Cameron Bedrosian.
Within the resort room the place Skaggs was discovered lifeless, investigators discovered a blue capsule decided to have been laced with the potent and sometimes lethal artificial opioid fentanyl, the workplace of the U.S. Legal professional for the Northern District of Texas has mentioned.
The capsule contained the stamping of the “blue boys” recognized to different gamers: “M/30.”
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s workplace decided that Mr. Skaggs had a combination of ethanol, fentanyl, and oxycodone in his system on the time of his demise. The workplace mentioned he choked to demise on his vomit following an overdose.
The workplace’s conclusion included a dedication that, “however for the fentanyl, Mr. Skaggs wouldn’t have died,” the U.S. Legal professional’s workplace mentioned in 2020.
“One fentanyl capsule can kill,” the U.S. Legal professional for the Northern District of Texas, Chad E. Meacham, mentioned in an announcement. “That’s why our workplace is dedicated to holding to account anybody who offers in illicit opioids, whether or not they function in again alleyways or world class stadiums.”
He added, “Mr. Skaggs didn’t should die this manner. Nobody does.”
Tim Winton
View More PostsTim Winton is a Jr.Editor, Author and Social Media Marketer with multitaskingtest.net.au. She is also a motivational Speaker, Sports News Writer Trending News Writer etc. I often share my thoughts on social media and now I am learning to write poetry in books.
