Youngkin signs bipartisan bills to charge fentanyl dealers with involuntary manslaughter if the drugs they sell cause an overdose 

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) - Starting July 1, fentanyl dealers could face even more time in prison. 

That’s because Governor Glenn Youngkin has signed bills to hold dealers accountable if the drugs they sell kill. 

The new law would allow prosecutors to charge fentanyl dealers with involuntary manslaughter if the drugs they sell lead to an overdose death. 

Involuntary manslaughter carries a sentence of 1-10 years in prison. That would be added on top of the 5-40 year sentence dealers can already receive for selling fentanyl. 

"Whether you live in rural Virginia or somewhere in the urban crescent, fentanyl is there and this is a first great step in making sure that we can deter those who would negligently and dangerously sell this material on our streets and in our communities,” Delegate Josh Thomas (D-Prince William, who wrote the House version of the bill, told 8News. 

In a statement, Senator Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover), who wrote the identical Senate version, told 8News the following.

“I’ve spent years introducing this legislation and fighting to hold drug dealers accountable when their deadly fentanyl kills Virginians. I’m glad our Democrat colleagues have finally joined us in taking this crisis seriously. This is a long-overdue step in the right direction—but make no mistake, we won’t stop until every community is protected, every fentanyl pusher faces the full force of the law, and our streets are safe again.” Senator Ryan McDougle

In a statement, a spokesperson for Youngkin said, “Enhancing penalties for drug dealers is a key part of Governor Youngkin’s comprehensive approach to reducing fentanyl deaths and ending the flow of fentanyl into Virginia communities, which has led to a 44 percent year-over-year reduction in fentanyl-connected overdoses.”