Cleveland man sentenced to more than 39 years for selling cocaine, fentanyl that caused an overdose death

U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko announced this month that Willie Pratt, 35, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced to 470 months (39 years and two months) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after a jury earlier convicted Pratt of distributing cocaine and fentanyl that caused the death of a 42-year-old North Olmsted, Ohio resident.

According to court documents and trial testimony, on Oct. 30, 2021, Pratt sold the victim cocaine and heroin, which was actually fentanyl. This transaction was witnessed by the victim’s friend. The victim consumed the narcotics, which caused the victim’s death in Rocky River. 

Authorities used the victim’s phone to identify and arrest Pratt through setting up a controlled purchase of the same narcotics. When Pratt was arrested, he had cocaine and fentanyl in his possession, as well a phone which the victim called to purchase narcotics from Pratt. 

In addition, Pratt was wearing a GPS ankle monitor, which confirmed that Pratt was at the location of the fatal distribution on Oct. 30, 2021.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Rocky River Police Department and DEA. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Payum Doroodian and Yasmine Makridis.