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Jamal Keys, 43, will face 18 to 36 years behind bars for the March 2019 heroin overdose death of a 34-year-old man in Paoli, according to Chester County District Attorney's Office.
Keys was found guilty by a jury in July 2021 of drug delivery resulting in death, possession with intent to deliver, criminal conspiracy, and criminal use of a communication facility.
On April 1, 2019, Willistown police officers were called to a home on Devon Road, where they discovered 14 packets of heroin, as well as drug paraphernalia, on the nightstand beside the victim, authorities said.
The victim’s family confirmed that he struggled with addiction, authorities said.
An investigation led police to a person named “Mal,” later identified as Keys, the DA's office said.
On March 29, he sold the victim 14 packets of heroin laced with fentanyl for $100 in Philadelphia, authorities said.
Keys continued to reach out to the victim about buying more heroin over the next two days, but got no response, according to investigators.
The victim’s family reported that March 29 was the last time the victim was seen alive, authorities said.
Keys' cousin, a co-defendant, delivered heroin to undercover detectives on April 3, 2019, and was arrested as a result, the DA's office said.
The co-defendant pled guilty to possession with intent to deliver in Oct. 2019, authorities said.
Keys was arrested on April 16.
“Families suffer enormously when a loved one dies as a result of drugs or alcohol," DA Deb Ryan said.
"Although nothing will be able to provide solace to those impacted by this tragedy, we hope this sentence will ease some of their pain and serve as a warning to other people who sell drugs that this could be their future.”
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