U.S. Navy Sailor Accused Of Selling Drug To Shipmates That Killed 1 & Overdosed Another

Federal prosecutors have charged a U.S. Navy sailor, Bailey Szramowski, with distributing fentanyl-laced drugs, which led to the death of a shipmate and caused another sailor to overdose.

The charges, filed in Southern California on Tuesday, accuse Szramowski of supplying fake Percocet pills laced with fentanyl to sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

The sailor who died from the fentanyl overdose, identified only as A.N. in charging documents, passed away on January 3, 2023, while on leave in San Leandro, California.

Police found signs of drug use at the scene, and an autopsy confirmed that A.N. died from fentanyl intoxication.

Ten days later, another sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, identified as C.L., overdosed while on the ship. C.L. survived the overdose due to the provided medical treatment and later agreed to cooperate with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) in their investigation.

C.L. told investigators that Szramowski had been selling fake Percocet pills, which likely contained fentanyl, to sailors aboard the carrier. He said he bought the pills from Szramowski and used CashApp, a mobile payment service, to receive payments for the drugs.

Szramowski is accused of conspiring with A.N. to distribute the pills to other sailors. Prosecutors say Szramowski knew the pills were dangerous but he continued to sell them.

After A.N.’s death, Szramowski tried to cover his tracks. He asked C.L. to lie to investigators and say that A.N. had been the one supplying the pills. He also told A.N.’s family members to delete text messages between him and A.N.

A.N.’s family refused to delete the messages and instead reported Szramowski to authorities.

Investigators later found a large amount of communication between Szramowski and A.N. on A.N.’s phone, including discussions about drug use and sales.

They also found a $100 payment between A.N. and Szramowski on CashApp.

Szramowski, who is from Pennsylvania, enlisted in the Navy in January 2021 and has been assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln since May 2021. He has been charged with distributing fentanyl, which led to A.N.’s death and C.L.’s overdose.

It’s unclear whether Szramowski has been arrested or if he has appeared in court yet.

The investigation is ongoing, and it’s not yet known whether Szramowski will face any military charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) for his alleged actions.

References: USNI News, NavyTimes

Source: Maritime Shipping News