Five inmates at the Venango County jail and an Oil City man are facing charges in a case in which police say fentanyl was brought into the jail via mail earlier this month and distributed to several inmates, two of whom overdosed.
Franklin police said in a criminal complaint that Anthony Adamo, 34, of Oil City, “created counterfeit legal mail that was made to look like it was from an attorney’s office,” placed a plastic bag with fentanyl in the envelope and mailed it to his brother, Kenneth Adamo, 35, who is an inmate at the jail.
When the mail arrived, it was opened by staff, but they didn’t see the fentanyl and delivered it to Kenneth Adamo on Feb. 6, the complaint said.
On Feb. 6, Kenneth Adamo delivered fentanyl to four inmates in a cell in exchange for Raman noodles, according to witnesses and some of the inmates, the complaint said.
Kenneth Adamo gave fentanyl to inmates Christopher Fletcher, 40, Dylan Wagner, 21, William Dolan, 28, and Joshua Warner, 41, who all ingested the substance, the complaint said.
In addition, Warner received more fentanyl from Dolan, his cellmate, who gave him part of what he received from Adamo, the complaint said, noting that Warner overdosed and Narcan was administered by jail staff before he was taken to UPMC Northwest.
The next day, both Wagner and Dolan resisted and refused to comply with a warrant from district judge Patrick Lowrey to have blood drawn, the complaint said.
Kenneth Adamo has been charged with four felony counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and a felony count of conspiracy-manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver.
Kenneth Adamo, Wagner, Fletcher, Dolan and Warner have been charged with a felony count of possession of a controlled substance-contraband/inmate and a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance.
In addition, Dolan and Wagner were charged with a misdemeanor count of obstruct administration of law/other government function.
Anthony Adamo has been charged with felony counts of contraband/controlled substance and conspiracy- contraband/controlled substance as well as a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance.
Kenneth Adamo, Wagner, Fletcher, Dolan and Warner were arraigned Thursday, and their preliminary hearings are scheduled March 1 in Venango County Central Court.
