South Park man sentenced for distributing fentanyl that caused McMurray man’s death
PITTSBURGH – An Allegheny County resident has been sentenced in federal court to five years probation for giving fentanyl to a McMurray man who overdosed on the drug.
According to information presented in court, Jacob Palaski, 28, of Pittsburgh, gave 10 stamp bags containing fentanyl to his friend, Jesse Iwanonkiw, July 9, 2016. The use of that fentanyl resulted in the McMurray man’s death the following day.
Prior to sentencing, U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti acknowledged the amount of drugs involved in Palaski’s crime was not large, but that when fentanyl is involved “one touch can kill.”
As part of his sentence, Palaski was ordered to pay $16,965 in restitution to the Iwanonkiw family for funeral and burial expenses. The first year of Palaski’s probation will require him to spend every weekend in jail.
An investigation by Peters Township Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration led to Palaski’s prosecution.