CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. – John Dylan Gromling, 32, of Beverly Hills, was sentenced to 20 years in the Florida Department of Corrections for a 2022 first-degree felony murder that was caused by the distribution of fentanyl, resulting in the overdose death of 53-year-old Bruce William Payne.
In August of 2022, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) responded to a deceased person at a residence in Inverness, later identified as Payne.
Deputies located drug paraphernalia that tested positive for fentanyl.
Read: Georgia Man Charged With Distributing Fentanyl That Killed One Person
Detective Dan Slingerland of the Major Crimes Unit (MCU) and CCSO’s Tactical Impact Unit (TIU) were able to identify Gromling as the individual who supplied Payne with the lethal dose of fentanyl.
“This sentencing underscores our unwavering commitment to combating the fentanyl crisis that plagues our communities. Fentanyl is not just an illicit drug – it is a weapon of mass destruction and sadly a death sentence for many unsuspecting victims,” said Sheriff Mike Prendergast. “I want to make my message clear – we will not tolerate these peddlers of death in our community. I am incredibly proud of our detectives and our partners at the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office for assisting us in the successful prosecution of this case.”
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