4 Charged In Connection With Deadly Oklahoma Drug Ring

A ring of drug dealers accused of slinging fentanyl laced pills across the state are now charged with the crime.

Investigators believe the pills killed at least two people in May.

Attorney General Mike Hunter said the deaths should come as no surprise to the dealers selling powerful drugs that are marketed otherwise.

“Anytime you're involved in selling drugs to people there’s some likelihood that person is going to end up in an emergency room or worse yet in a morgue,” said Hunter.

On May 11, David Nelson Jr. and his good friend Tyler Hughes were found dead inside a home in Jones.

Court documents show investigators believe they died from a drug overdose.

Investigators said they are victims of a recent trend.

“The fact that you got people lacing these pills with fentanyl is really kind of a case study of why we take drug crimes so seriously,” said Hunter.

David Williams Jr., Clarence Merrell, Carlos Scruggs and Isidro Hernandez have all been charged.

Court records show the group was selling counterfeit Oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl.

“Fentanyl is the most dangerous substance we see out in the streets. Fentanyl the size of a grain of sand could kill somebody instantly,” said Hunter.             

After reviewing phone records, investigators believe David Williams Jr. went to David Nelson Jr's home where he sold Nelson four counterfeit pills.

Williams told investigators he previously sold tablets to Nelson at the Choctaw fire station where Nelson worked.

Hunter said while the victims don't always know what's in the drugs, they’re assuming the dealers do.

“The longer you are on drugs the less satisfying the high becomes and so it’s a tragically, cold blooded technique to entice people to buy the drugs that your selling-- lacing these pills with fentanyl,” said Hunter.         

Investigators also seized over 700 counterfeit Oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl, guns and over $16,000.