A Fort Worth couple was sentenced to a combined 51 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl linked to two fatal overdoses, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton announced.
Edward Taylor, 42, and Tierrah “TT” Andrews, 29, were arrested after being charged in March 2024. Both pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman sentenced Taylor to 27 years and Andrews to just over 24 years in federal prison.
The couple admitted to selling fentanyl and cocaine out of a motel room and an apartment in the Las Vegas Trail area of Fort Worth. These narcotics sales were directly linked to the overdose deaths of two men—45-year-old T.M., and 21-year-old K.S.
On November 2, 2023, T.M. visited Taylor’s motel room to purchase drugs, including fentanyl-laced M-30 pills. He was later found dead in his bedroom, with a crushed pill and other M-30 pills discovered nearby. His death was attributed to a fentanyl overdose.
Just three months later, on January 26, 2024, K.S. contacted Andrews, requesting “rocks n blues,” street slang for crack cocaine and fentanyl pills. K.S. traveled to Andrews’ apartment to complete the transaction, paying $77 via CashApp. He was later found deceased by his sister, with blue M-30 pills, white powder, and drug paraphernalia nearby. His death was also ruled an overdose caused by fentanyl.
During their investigation, authorities learned that the couple had been trafficking drugs for several months. They sold fentanyl pills to multiple individuals and had large quantities of M-30 pills, commonly referred to as “percs,” in plain sight.
On January 27, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Andrews’ apartment. They found 270 fentanyl-laced M-30 pills, cocaine, methamphetamine, and a drug ledger. Andrews was carrying a privately manufactured firearm, or “ghost gun,” loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition, which she claimed was for protection while dealing drugs. The defendants were arrested on February 29, 2024, during an undercover operation where agents purchased fentanyl pills from the couple.
Taylor and Andrews were also found in possession of firearms, despite both being convicted felons. When presented with photos of the victims, Taylor admitted to selling fentanyl to T.M., and Andrews confessed to selling to K.S.
The case was part of a broader investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division, Fort Worth Police Department, and Parker County Sheriff’s Office. Both Taylor and Andrews will serve their sentences without the possibility of parole.
