Last week, 32-year-old John Dylan Gromling of Beverly Hills was sentenced to 20 years in the Florida Department of Corrections for a 2022 first-degree felony murder charge. The charge stemmed from the unlawful distribution of fentanyl, which resulted in the overdose death of 53-year-old Bruce William Payne.
In August 2022, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) responded to a call about a deceased person at a residence in Inverness, where Payne was found. Deputies discovered drug paraphernalia that tested positive for fentanyl. Detective Dan Slingerland of the Major Crimes Unit (MCU) and CCSO’s Tactical Impact Unit (TIU) identified Gromling as the supplier of the lethal dose of fentanyl to Payne.
Sheriff Mike Prendergast emphasized the seriousness of the fentanyl crisis, stating, “Fentanyl is not just an illicit drug – it is a weapon of mass destruction and sadly a death sentence for many unsuspecting victims.” He expressed pride in the detectives and the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office for their successful prosecution of the case.
This case marks the second of its kind in Citrus County and the first to result in a conviction. Gromling pled guilty to charges of unlawful distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and possession of fentanyl.
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