An Atlantic City man accused in an overdose death allegedly warned a buyer that his drugs could be fatal a week after a man died.
William Jenkins, 28, was ordered held in jail Wednesday, after a detention hearing on a first-degree drug-induced death charge.
The victim, identified only as B.F., was found unresponsive with a needle in his arm inside a parked vehicle July 5 in Atlantic City, according to the affidavit of probable cause obtained by BreakingAC.
Police also found nine unmarked blue glassine bags that tested positive for fentanyl, according to the charges.
Text messages between Jenkins and B.F. indicated the two set up a drug deal on the Boardwalk at New York Avenue before the overdose.
“Fire fire from Camden,” Jenkins allegedly texted, using a street term for fentanyl, the affidavit states.
Eight days later, Jenkins was bragging again about his drug being “straight fire” when he allegedly sold drugs to a woman who said she was friends with the victim, according to the charges.
Jenkins gave her a dispenser of Narcan, advising her to be careful not to overdose, the affidavit states.
“I just started grabbing shit again, and if it’s the same … I’m thinking of, I told him to do half a bag and he f------ OD’d,” Jenkins allegedly told her.
But the woman was not a friend, she was an undercover officer.
Jenkins was arrested July 13 on the drug charges, and found with a five-inch knife that led to more charges.
He was ordered held after a detention hearing at that time.
Jenkins admitted to selling the undercover the drugs during a Mirandized after that arrest, the affidavit states.
When asked about the fatal transaction, Jenkins is quoted as saying at that time, “I pointed him in the right direction.”
When asked about the Narcan and shown a photograph of the victim, Jenkins said, “With him, (I) didn’t realize it was gonna be that way.”
Months later, he is now charged in the death.
His attorney argued Wednesday that Jenkins is merely a low-level drug dealer who sells in order to support his own addiction.
Jenkins was employed for almost a year as a cashier at Rocco’s Italian Kitchen & Market in the Ocean Resort.
His client needs treatment, defense attorney John Bjorklund said.
“The fact that he sold drugs knowing full well that his drugs had previously killed somebody, I think, speaks volumes,” Assistant Prosecutor Chris D’Esposito told the judge.
“He didn’t rehab at that time,” he added. “It was not a wake-up call to him.”
Judge Joseph Levin agreed, and ordered Jenkins held.
He remains in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
