Port Townsend, Washington, man who abandoned overdose victim in car outside hospital emergency room sentenced to federal prison for drug and gun crimes

 Defendant manufactured and distributed steroids and fake prescription medications from basement lab

Tacoma -  A Port Townsend, Washington, man who abandoned a heroin overdose victim in a car outside a hospital emergency room was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to a total of 66 months in prison for drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession charges, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran.  ADAM MICHAEL KELLY, 38, pleaded guilty in August 2020 to possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and being a drug user in possession of firearms.  At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle noted the letters he had received from the Port Townsend community mourning the loss of the victim.  Judge Settle said KELLY would have to “live with” the fact that he had likely played a role in the tragic death of the overdose victim “for the rest of [Kelly’s] life.” 

According to the facts in the plea agreement, on March 27, 2019, KELLY and his then-girlfriend abandoned a 43-year-old overdose victim in a car outside the hospital emergency room.  They later called the hospital asking staff to check on the victim.  The victim, who had no pulse when he was found by hospital staff, died within twenty minutes.  Law enforcement traced the phone call to KELLY’s residence.  When questioned by police, KELLY admitted that the victim had used drugs in his home, that the victim became unresponsive, and that KELLY had left him at the emergency room entrance when he could not revive him.

Police obtained a search warrant for KELLY’s home and found a sophisticated drug lab in the basement with pill presses, lab equipment, vent hoods, and over 75 pounds of Schedule III controlled substances, primarily steroids.  Records seized at the lab indicate KELLY had a lucrative business selling and shipping illegal steroids across the country.  The victim had become unresponsive in KELLY’s drug lab.

In addition to the drug lab, KELLY had a wide variety of firearms, silencers, and tactical gear.  In the lab, KELLY had a.40 caliber Glock that was both loaded and fitted with a silencer.  In his bedroom, he had six guns, including two Glock handguns, a Bersa .22 caliber, a Winchester shotgun, a Remington 700, and a Bushmaster AR-15.  A second silencer was found in the bedroom.  Law enforcement seized a variety of ammunition, as well as a tactical vest. 

As an admitted drug user, it is illegal for KELLY to possess firearms.  When KELLY was arrested, he had both heroin and methamphetamine in his possession. 

KELLY is currently serving a 68-month state sentence for controlled substance homicide, a charge arising out of this same investigation and based on the overdose victim’s death.  KELLY’s sentence in this case, including the recommendation that the sentence run concurrent to the state sentence, was jointly recommended by the parties to resolve globally KELLY’s state and federal charges.  The judgment for a 44-month federal sentence that Judge Settle imposed is in addition to and reflects the 22 months KELLY has already served in state and federal custody on these and related state charges, for a total effective sentence of 66 months. 

If KELLY completes his state sentence first, he will then be transferred to federal custody to serve the federal time.  KELLY has been in custody since his arrest on March 28, 2019.

The case was investigated by the Port Townsend Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from other local and federal law enforcement agencies.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Dreher.