Lincoln man gets two decades for distributing fentanyl resulting in death

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A Lincoln man was sentenced Friday for selling fentanyl that caused a fatal overdose.

Michael Smith, 32, got 20 years in federal prison with a 5-year term of supervised release for one count of distributing fentanyl causing death.

In August 2023, Smith sold 17 fentanyl pills to Aidan Glenn, and Glenn sold those pills to Chase Hartung, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

After Hartung received the pills, authorities said he gave five of them to another person.

That man took at least one of the pills, resulting in his overdose and death.

SEE ALSO: Lincoln man sentenced to 20 years for selling fentanyl resulting in death

The victim’s phone records show that Hartung was his only source of fentanyl pills, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Through conversations with Hartung and a review of his phone, law enforcement learned that he and the victim occasionally pooled money together to buy pills from Glenn and Wren Chamberlain.

SEE ALSO: Lincoln woman sentenced after getting caught arranging drug deals — twice

Law enforcement said Hartung helped them arrange a sting operation.

Glenn told Hartung that he was going to meet Smith to get more pills.

Investigators then arrested Glenn, Chamberlain and Smith at that location.

During recorded jail calls, Glenn admitted to selling Hartung the pills that resulted in the victim’s death.

Glenn was sentenced to 20 years in prison in January, while Chamberlain was sentenced in December to more than four years in prison.

Hartung is currently set for a court hearing on May 21.