Silver Spring man pleads guilty to distributing fentanyl, leading to the death of a 16-year-old boy

SILVER SPRING, Md. — A 26-year-old Silver Spring man faces 20 years in prison for selling a teenager a pill laced with fentanyl that ultimately led to his death. 

Mikiyas Kefyalew, has pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl that resulted in the tragic death of a 16-year-old in Bethesda. The case highlights the ongoing danger of counterfeit pills laced with deadly substances, which continue to claim lives across the country.

On January 16, 2022, the victim, referred to in court documents as Victim 1, reached out to Kefyalew via Snapchat, asking to buy “Percs”—slang for Percocet, a prescription pain medication. However, what Victim 1 received were counterfeit pills designed to look like legitimate Percocet but actually contained fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, and despropionyl fentanyl, a similarly dangerous substance.

Kefyalew drove to the location provided by Victim 1, where the teen bought two pills from him. After returning home, the young victim went to bed and was later found unresponsive by family members the next morning. An autopsy confirmed that the cause of death was fentanyl and despropionyl fentanyl intoxication.

Following the teen’s death, authorities discovered a small blue pill marked with “M 30” near the victim. While it appeared to be a 30 mg oxycodone pill, tests revealed it was laced with fentanyl and despropionyl fentanyl.

This wasn’t the first time Kefyalew had been caught with these dangerous pills. In August 2021, he had been issued a criminal citation for marijuana possession, during which a similar pill was found. It was tested and showed the same dangerous combination of substances. Further investigation into Kefyalew’s phone messages indicated that he was aware of the risks associated with these counterfeit pills.

Investigators say Kefyalew knew that these pills contained fentanyl and still marketed them as Percocet, which greatly increased the risk of overdose for anyone who took them. He was also aware that Victim 1 was a minor.

Kefyalew is scheduled to be sentenced on January 28, 2025, and faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by counterfeit drugs, especially those containing fentanyl. Just a tiny amount of fentanyl can be lethal, and it’s impossible to tell the difference between a legitimate prescription pill and a counterfeit one just by looking at it.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office encourages community members to be vigilant and to speak to young people about the risks associated with drug use, particularly pills obtained outside of a pharmacy.

For more information and resources on how to protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of counterfeit drugs, visit the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office website.