Kingsport man sentenced to life in prison for role in fentanyl overdose death
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — A Kingsport man was sentenced to serve life in prison on Monday for his role in a fentanyl overdose death, according to a release from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville.
Terrance Lamont Hines, 42, was sentenced for the December 2020 death of a 52-year-old Kingsport woman, who died in her Sullivan County home, according to the release.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that a toxicology report and autopsy confirmed the woman had overdosed on fentanyl. Investigation revealed that she had been self-medicating for chronic pain by purchasing controlled substances from individuals, the release said.
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Further investigation led agents to discover that Hines supplied the fentanyl that led to the woman’s death and had distributed the substance through a chain of lower-level dealers, according to the release.
The release said three codefendants — Shaina K. Langford, 34, of Jonesborough, Adam Presnell, 37, of Knoxville, and Robin Hutchins, 63, of Kingsport — were part of the chain of distribution. Hines reportedly sold the fentanyl to Hutchins, who sold it to Presnell, who sold it to Lanford, who then supplied it directly to the victim. All three pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, according to the release.
After Hines was identified, investigators set up three controlled purchases of fentanyl from him and obtained search warrants for his business, OD Records, and apartment, both in Kingsport, the release said. The search was executed on July 20, 2021, where police located a 9mm pistol, over 100 grams of fentanyl with a street value exceeding $116,000, $1,400 in cash, an “assault rifle” and drug paraphernalia.
The release said Hines was found guilty in June 2023 of conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl with a resulting death, multiple counts of distributing fentanyl, possessing with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and possessing firearms by a convicted felon.
“During the sentencing hearing, Judge Ronnie Greer determined that Hines was both an armed career criminal under the applicable federal statutory law and a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines,” the release states.
Hines’ codefendants were also sentenced or are awaiting sentencing. Lanford was
sentenced on Nov. 20, 2023, to 120 months in prison. Presnell was sentenced on Jan. 3 to 84 months in prison. Hutchins entered a guilty plea on June 12, 2023, and she is
scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 19.
“Fentanyl is an exceedingly dangerous drug, and overdose deaths from fentanyl have become all too common across Tennessee and the nation,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “The United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to use every available resource to prosecute those who traffic fentanyl to provide justice to the victims and to deter others who might be considering trafficking in fentanyl.”
Investigating agencies include the 2nd Judicial Drug Task Force, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kingsport Police Department. TBI Special Agent Scott Lott led the investigation.
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