Two suspected drug dealers are facing a charge of first degree murder for allegedly selling fentanyl-laced drugs to a 29-year-old man who died after using them.
Travis Simmons, 32, and Chirag Patel, 29, were arrested by law enforcement authorities on December 7 on a charge of death caused by the unlawful distribution of fentanyl.
According to a statement issued by the Orlando Police Department, the men allegedly sold drugs to Gage Taylor in September 2022.
Taylor, who was from Winter Garden, was found unresponsive in the 6500 block of Queens Borough Avenue along with two other victims. All three individuals had ingested and overdosed from drugs.
Although the other two victims survived, Taylor was pronounced deceased on September 26, 2022.
During an extensive, multi-month investigation, Orlando Overdose Investigation Unit detectives allegedly identified Simmons and Patel as the individuals who dealt the drugs to Taylor.
On December 6, Simmons and Patel were indicted by a Grand Jury on a charge of death caused by the unlawful distribution of fentanyl, which is equivalent to a first degree murder capital felony charge.
During Simmons’ arrest, authorities allegedly recovered a firearm, suspected powder fentanyl, and oxycodone pills from his apartment. Detectives believe the oxycodone pills are likely counterfeit and contain fentanyl as well.
Simmons is a convicted felon and, as such, is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Earlier this year, Taylor’s mother placed an empty chair memorial at Orlando Police Department Headquarters and at Orlando Fire Department to honor her son.
