Jerilyn Martel Hupp, a 33-year-old resident of Boise, has pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl in a case that resulted in a man's death. U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced the plea, stating that Hupp sold ten fentanyl pills to an individual she met online. The man died after consuming half of one pill containing illicit fentanyl.
Court records reveal that on August 18, 2023, the victim met Hupp at a hotel where he purchased the pills. After returning home and ingesting part of a pill, he died almost immediately. Reports from the coroner and pathologist indicated a blood concentration level of 9.4 ng/ml of fentanyl, confirming the cause of death as a fentanyl overdose. It is noted that fatal concentrations can be as low as 3 ng/ml.
Hupp's sentencing is scheduled for April 2, 2025, before Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill. The charge carries potential penalties including up to 20 years in federal prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and supervised release ranging from three years to life.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit praised the investigative efforts by multiple agencies: "the Nampa Police Department," "the Drug Enforcement Administration," "the Boise Police Department," and "the Meridian Police Department." Assistant U.S Attorney David Morse is handling the prosecution.