Two Families Sentenced for Fentanyl Overdoses on Young Children in New York, Oregon

In two separate cases highlighting the dangers of fentanyl exposure to children, parents in Oregon and New York have been sentenced to prison after their young children suffered from overdoses. In Portland, Samantha Smith and De’Lone Kelley received prison sentences of over four and six years, respectively, after their three-year-old son suffered a non-lethal fentanyl overdose in 2023, resulting in permanent brain damage and the need for 24-hour care; both pleaded guilty to assault and criminal mistreatment after failing to appear for their original sentencing. Meanwhile, in Suffolk County, New York, Wilkens Adonis was sentenced to 5 to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter, drug possession, and child endangerment following the fatal overdose of his 14-month-old son, caused by a mixture of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine found in the home. Authorities also discovered unsecured firearms and drug paraphernalia accessible to children in Adonis’ apartment, underscoring the risks in such environments. Prosecutors and officials in both cases stressed the preventable nature of these tragedies and called for stronger legal protections for children against drug exposure.