Youngkin ceremonially signs bill to charge certain fentanyl dealers with involuntary manslaughter 

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- New punishments for those who deal fentanyl are on the way in Virginia. 

That’s because on June 13, Governor Glenn Youngkin ceremonially signed a bill that will allow prosecutors to charge fentanyl dealers with involuntary manslaughter if the drugs they sell lead to an overdose death.

 “Today, we are signing a bill that so importantly recognizes it also takes one dealer to lace a Percocet with fentanyl to go kill people, and I want to make sure that that dealer goes to jail,” Youngkin said.

Involuntary manslaughter is punishable by up to ten years in prison. That’s on top of the 5 to 40 years dealers can receive for selling fentanyl. 

“It’s a big win for us moms today and for Virginia. Real huge win. I’m so excited about it,” Sharon Roberts told 8News.

Roberts’ son, Shawn, died in 2018 when he overdosed on fentanyl after taking what he believed was Xanax. 

To hear more of the Roberts’ story, watch the report at the top of this article. 

The new law will take effect on July 1.