Somers Point Man Admits Selling Fentanyl That Killed Man

SOMERS POINT, NJ — A Somers Point man pleaded guilty Monday in Atlantic County in connection with a fentanyl death case, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.

Dwayne Legette, 51, pleaded guilty to first-degree strict liability drug induced death and third-degree distribution of CDS.

The plea calls for a recommended sentence of eight years in New Jersey State Prison on the strict liability charge. Under the plea, Legette must serve 85 percent of that term in New Jersey State Prison. The plea also calls for a concurrent five-year sentence in New Jersey State Prison on the distribution charge. Following his release from prison, he will be supervised on parole for five additional years.

The case stems from a Dec. 25, 2023 response by the Somers Point Police Department to a call about an unresponsive man. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police found a small amount of suspected CDS at the scene, and that substance was confirmed to be fentanyl. The Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the male died of Fentanyl Intoxication.

According to authorities, evidence showed Legette sold the fentanyl to someone who gave it to the male. The male ingested the substance and suffered from an overdose. No additional details about the other person were included in the release.

Under New Jersey law, a person who distributes a controlled dangerous substance is strictly liable for a death that results from the ingestion of that substance. The offense carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.