A Philadelphia man was sentenced to state prison on Tuesday after pleading guilty to charges related to the drug overdose death of a fellow inmate at the Bucks County Correctional Facility.
Allen Rhoades, 31, faced multiple charges, including drug delivery resulting in death, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver, and possession of contraband in a penal facility. He pleaded guilty to those charges and resolved four other cases with his guilty pleas, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.
The sentence of seven to 20 years was handed down by Bucks County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Raymond McHugh at the justice center. In addition to the prison term, Rhoades will serve 10 years on probation and must pay $3,000 in restitution.
The charges stem from the death of 22-year-old Joshua Patterson of Philadelphia, who died of complications from fentanyl intoxication, as determined by an autopsy conducted by the Bucks County Coroner’s Office.
Patterson was found unresponsive in his cell on August 1, 2022, and pronounced dead shortly after.
During sentencing, family members of Patterson shared testimony on the impact of his loss. Relatives highlighted the devastating effects of his death.
The investigation was led by the Bucks County Detectives Drug Strike Force and the Department of Corrections Investigation Unit.
According to authorities, Rhoades smuggled fentanyl and methamphetamine into the jail following his arrest on outstanding warrants after a traffic stop on July 25, 2022, on I-95 in Bensalem Township.
Investigators pieced together Rhoades’ operation through extensive surveillance footage and interviews with several witnesses. They discovered that Rhoades had been trading or selling drugs to inmates, including Patterson, in exchange for commissary goods.
A search of Rhoades’ cell uncovered eight bundles containing 123 wax bags of suspected heroin and nine bags of methamphetamine, authorities said.
Following Patterson’s death, a search of his cell found a clear bag and a homemade straw with traces of fentanyl, authorities said.
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