Olathe man sentenced to 20 years without parole for fentanyl distribution conspiracy that resulted in a death

photo by: Drug Enforcement Administration

Many substances can be laced with fentanyl, and people can often unknowingly ingest it when they think they're taking a different substance, such as Xanax, OxyContin or heroin.

An Olathe man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, which resulted in an overdose death, according to a news release Wednesday from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.

Jacob A. Block, 27, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on Monday to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Block to forfeit to the government $10,000 — the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking.

On Feb. 1, 2024, Block pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and to one count of distributing fentanyl. Block admitted that he delivered 10 M-30 pills containing fentanyl to a confidential informant. Block possessed an additional 150 to 300 M-30 pills at the time of this transaction. Block also admitted that he sold a co-defendant approximately seven grams of powder fentanyl and 50 M-30 pills five to seven days a week, for six or seven months, according to the release.

All 13 defendants in this case have pleaded guilty. Block is the ninth defendant to be sentenced.

Co-defendant Dmitry Cattell, 25, of Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced on May 2, 2024, to 21 years in federal prison without parole for leading the drug-trafficking conspiracy and for illegally possessing a firearm. Evidence was presented at Cattell’s sentencing hearing related to the delivery of fentanyl, the use of which caused the death of another person on May 18, 2020. The victim of the fatal overdose is not identified in court documents.