A federal judge has sentenced James Mason Daugherty, 33, to 25 years in prison for distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of a 33-year-old man. Daugherty pleaded guilty on May 22, 2025.
Court documents and information presented during proceedings revealed that in December 2021, the New Bern Police Department identified Daugherty as a source of fentanyl sales in New Bern. Law enforcement conducted seven controlled purchases from him. On May 16, 2022, one of his customers died after using fentanyl supplied by Daugherty.
Daugherty made several admissions regarding his actions. He stated about his victim: “that’s the third person I killed off a dope.” He also named two additional individuals he claimed had died after using fentanyl he sold them, saying, “I gave them the dope that killed ‘em.” According to court records, Daugherty admitted to selling fentanyl to another person on the same day; first responders administered Narcan and narrowly saved this individual’s life.
State authorities initially arrested Daugherty and released him on bond. He later received only probation for state charges related to selling fentanyl. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina then indicted him federally for causing the death of the 33-year-old victim. After his federal arrest, he remained in custody.
A search of Daugherty’s cell phone revealed that he was aware three people had died from fentanyl he sold but continued dealing while on release and probation until his federal detention.
