Oct 15, 2023

Sheriff: 2 Kan. teens caught with hundreds of fentanyl pills

Posted Oct 15, 2023 1:00 AM
Johnson-photo Montgomery Co.
Johnson-photo Montgomery Co.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two Kansas teens on drug allegations.

Just after 6p.m. Thursday, sheriff's deputies conducted a traffic investigation on a 2015 black Volkswagen Passat for an alleged stop sign violation, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Ron Wade.

During the traffic investigation, deputies noticed an odor of burnt marijuana emitting from inside the vehicle. Deputies identified the driver as 18-year-old  Trinity L. Schlegel of Neodesha, Kansas and the passenger as 18-year-old  Quaylan M. Johnson of Independence, Kansas.

Photo Montgomery Co. Sheriff.
Photo Montgomery Co. Sheriff.

Deputies recovered a total of 972 suspected fentanyl pills also known as “Dirty 30s”, marijuana, and US currency associated with illegal narcotic distribution, and drug paraphernalia.

Schlegel photo Montgomery Co.
Schlegel photo Montgomery Co.

Both Schlegel and Johnson were taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections and booked on the recommended charges of distribution of opiates, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Kansas Bureau of Investigations (KBI), 7 out of 10 pills that have been recovered and tested by the DEA for fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. KBI laboratory submissions testing positive for fentanyl have increased over 900% from 2020 to 2022.

Sheriff Wade said, “The war on drugs is a revolving door and fentanyl has reared its head here in Montgomery County. The Sheriff’s Office has seized over 6,460 fentanyl pills since 2022.