A Des Moines woman, Nevaeh Simone Botts, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison on November 15, 2024. She was convicted for distributing a pill containing fentanyl that led to the death of a 16-year-old victim.
Court documents reveal that Botts, aged 21, sold the fentanyl-laced pills to the teenager who overdosed and died. Additionally, she sold similar pills to an undercover officer on three occasions. In July 2023, during a search of her apartment, law enforcement discovered hundreds of fentanyl pills and two firearms.
Following her imprisonment, Botts will serve a five-year supervised release term. The federal system does not offer parole. She has also been ordered to pay $5,574.09 in restitution.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal from the Southern District of Iowa announced the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the Des Moines Police Department.
Fentanyl is currently the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the U.S., with fatalities among youth aged 15 to 24 more than doubling between 2018 and 2022. Counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl often mimic pharmaceutical drugs but can contain lethal doses. More information can be found on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website under "One Pill Can Kill."