Muncie man convicted of trafficking in teen's death

MUNCIE, Ind. — A Muncie man is found guilty of multiple charges after a teenager died from drugs he was selling in November 2023.

The Delaware Circuit Court found Ricky Taylor, 24, guilty of:

• Aiding, abetting, or causing trafficking in a controlled substance resulting in death, a level 1 felony.
• Drug trafficking, level 5 misdemeanor
• Conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, a level 5 felony

Taylor was found not guilty on Count 3 of an additional charge of aiding, abetting, or inducing the sale of a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony.

According to the prosecutor's office, Taylor's case is the 12th drug trafficker to be convicted in Delaware County for trafficking resulting in death.

“I am proud to announce that a major supplier of counterfeit fentanyl tablets has been convicted of aiding, inducing, or causing the sale of a narcotic resulting in death for his role in the fentanyl distribution chain in the Delaware County,” Andrew Ramirez said. , assistant district attorney for Delaware County.

“To our knowledge, this may be the first time a high-profile provider has been held responsible for an overdose death linked to its distribution network. He is the 12th drug trafficker convicted in Delaware County of trafficking resulting in death.

Taylor faces up to 40 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for a Level 1 felony and up to 6 years and a $10,000 fine for a Level 5 felony.

He will be sentenced on July 17, 2024.

Information will be updated in the story as it becomes available. Read more about the case here.