A Vineland man who sold deadly drugs to a teen in 2020 was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Freddie Smith, now 45, pleaded guilty in November to first-degree strict liability.
He admitted to selling the 18-year-old man the drugs at some point overnight into March 12, 2020, in the parking lot of a Wawa in Vineland.
The teen, whose name was not released, was found dead on the couch of his family home that morning.
Toxicology tests determined he died from fentanyl and cocaine.
An investigation by the State Police Buena Vista Criminal Investigation Office led to a warranted search of Smith’s home, where drug-packaging paraphernalia, fentanyl and cocaine were found.
Smith must serve 10 years and two months before he is eligible for parole. He then faces five years of parole supervision.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant Prosecutor Allison Eiselen and Assistant Prosecutor Chris D’Esposito.
Smith previously was sentenced to five years in prison for a 2016 gun charge, records show. He was released in September 2019.
He remains in the Atlantic County Justice Facility awaiting transfer to state prison.
