21 February 2024
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A man from Wichita has been sentenced to 25 years for a fentanyl related death.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office District of Kansas (USAODOK), in October 2023, 35-year-old Tyler Ralls of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance, which resulted in death.
On July 31, 2019, Ralls gave 35-year-old Michael Marsalla a pill that he knew was laced with fentanyl.
The USAODOK says Ralls admitted to knowing that Marsalla did not use fentanyl and, therefore, did not have a tolerance for it.
The next day, when Ralls could not get a hold of Marsalla by phone, he drove to his house and found him unresponsive. He called 911. When first responders arrived, they pronounced Marsalla deceased at the scene.
An autopsy determined the victim died of fentanyl toxicity.
“Michael Marsalla’s vibrant life was cut short because of a single pill,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E.
Brubacher. “This 25-year prison sentence is one of the most severe handed down for a fentanyl-causing death case in the history of the District of Kansas. Ideally, this outcome will become a
cautionary tale to fentanyl traffickers about the repercussions they face for their crimes because our office is firmly committed to prosecuting those who peddle this poison in our communities.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Valley Center Police Department investigated the case.