News

Polk man sent to prison for selling fentanyl that caused death

By Lightning Reports, Published: February 25, 2025

A 32-year-old Mill Spring man was sentenced to up to six years in prison Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to selling drugs to a man who subsequently died of a fentanyl overdose, District Attorney R. Andrew Murray announced.

According to the investigation and court trial records, in October 2023 Columbus police officers responded to a call at the Second Chance Thrift Store on Mills Street, where they found a man lying in an alley. Emergency Medical Services also responded, and despite their best efforts to save the unconscious male, he died at the scene.

Finding drug paraphernalia near the body, officers suspected an overdose. Law enforcement was able to develop Austin Tyler Ball as a suspect early on due to eyewitnesses who placed Ball and the victim together just prior to the 911 call.

Physical evidence including text messages and a video recording showed that Ball sold fentanyl to the victim. An autopsy from Wake Forest Medical Center determined that the victim died from fentanyl toxicity. Superior Court Judge Peter Knight sentenced Ball to a minimum term of four years two months and a maximum of six years in state prison.

Assistant District Attorney Michael Van Buren handled the prosecution and sentencing of these crimes. Murray thanked the Columbus Police Department and the lead investigator, Lt. Cody Gordon, for the professional and thorough investigation of this case.

“His office is dedicated to fighting back against those pushing the poison that has claimed far too many lives in our community,” Murray said.