COVINGTON — A Maysville man who provided drugs to a friend that resulted in her death will serve 20 years in prison for his actions.
Iseral Jordan Grayson, 24, entered a guilty plea in March to Count 1 of an indictment returned in August, 2017, that stated the he “did conspire with others to knowingly and intentionally distribute controlled substances, including a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance, a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, and a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance.” The action resulted in the death of Jazlyn Dudley on Sept. 30, 2016.
Grayson entered a guilty plea to the charge in March and was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Covington by Judge David Bunning.
Grayson’s arrest and conviction is part of an ongoing effort by Mason County Sheriff Patrick Boggs to bring drug offenders who contribute to the loss of life to justice. Boggs said early on it should send a message to those selling or sharing drugs — there will be a price to pay for their actions.
According to the sentencing memorandum, “Grayson provided controlled substances to Jazlyn Dudley which she ingested and which resulted in her death.” The memo goes on to say that Dudley and Grayson had been acquainted for some time and had socialized “on multiple occasions.” Both were struggling with substance abuse issues, according to court documents.
Grayson had conspired with others to distribute drugs, including fentanyl, heroin and alprazolam. He obtained alprazolam and a substance “he believed to be heroin on Sept. 29, 2016, from known sources in Ohio. On that same evening, he distributed them to multiple individuals,” including Dudley, at his home in Mason County. She became “immediately impaired,” according to court records. Both fell asleep shortly before midnight.
When Grayson woke the following morning, he discovered Dudley had died during the night and he called 911 at 7 a.m., telling dispatchers that he thought she was dead. When paramedics arrived on the scene, they found her dead on the couch at Grayson’s home.
An autopsy showed that Dudley died from an overdose of heroin, fentanyl and alprazolam. Grayson admitted to court officials that Dudley would not have died if not for the consumption of the drugs he supplied to her.
The memo points out that while there is no question the death was unintentional…”It is equally true that (Grayson) was well aware of the dangers of the drugs he supplied.”
The memo goes on to say “It is difficult to comprehend the magnitude of the loss he (Grayson) caused. The letters from the Dudley family are the best expression of their grief and the consequences of (Grayson’s) conduct.”
The court said that Grayson “accepted full responsibility for his actions in a timely manner once he was charged in federal court. He is only 24 years old and there is reason to believe he can reform his conduct and positively contribute to society with appropriate treatment and support…”
The sentence was set at 240 months with five years of supervised released. Under federal law, he must serve 85 percent of his sentence.
Grayson was arrested in August 2017 and has remained lodged in the Campbell County Detention Center awaiting his sentencing. He will, at some point, be transferred to a federal facility to serve out his sentence.
