Man's trial set for 'disguised' fentanyl pills

Joy Ufford, jufford@pinedaleroundup.com
Posted 3/4/21

An Idaho Falls man was charged with bringing fentanyl pills disguised as Oxycodone tablets into Sublette County after he pulled over several times traveling north of Rock Springs on Jan. 28.

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Man's trial set for 'disguised' fentanyl pills

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SUBLETTE COUNTY – An Idaho Falls man was charged with bringing fentanyl pills disguised as Oxycodone tablets into Sublette County after he pulled over several times traveling north of Rock Springs on Jan. 28.

On Feb. 24, Steven R. Black pleaded not guilty in 9th District Court to felony possession of fentanyl, misdemeanor possession of Alprazolam, misdemeanor possession of meth, driving under the influence of a controlled substance and failure to maintain liability insurance.

Public defender Rachel Weksler represents him and Sublette County Attorney Mike Crosson is prosecuting him. Black requested a jury trial, set for July 19 at 9 a.m., with a June 18 pretrial conference at 10 a.m..

Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Tyler Schilling responded to a call around 1:14 p.m. of a man driving a silver Hyundai in Rock Springs all over the road, according to his affidavit.

A caller reported the man stopped at a gas station, slumped over the steering wheel.

A Sweetwater County deputy followed the vehicle, which pulled into a feed store near Farson; the man got out, smoked from a pipe and began driving north again on Highway 191. Trooper Schilling saw and followed the vehicle until it pulled into the Sand Draw gas station, he said: “This was three stops in 77 miles.”

The trooper drove north, set up stationary radar and pulled the Hyundai over after it passed by, traveling 55 mph in the 50-mph zone, according to the affidavit. Black had a hard time concentrating and his pupils were very constricted, it says.

Several officers arrived and talked with Black, who reportedly said he used meth and Oxycodone “on a regular basis.” A Sweetwater County drug dog alerted at the vehicle and troopers found other alleged drugs and paraphernalia.

A bag of blue pills resembling Oxycodone was weighed at 9.2 grams, an unknown oily substance weighed 17.6 grams and other small amounts of suspected Xanax, Oxycodone, meth and glass pipes were found.

A Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation agent told Schilling that Black was out on bond after an arrest in Idaho on Jan. 11 with 300 alleged fentanyl pills stamped as Oxycodone. The agent said the Idaho State Police tested and confirmed the fentanyl, his affidavit said.

A Sublette County TrueNarc Scan was inconclusive, showing the pills contained acetaminophen but narcotics couldn’t be ruled out. White powder was confirmed as meth; the oily substance was not identified. Black later reportedly told the DCI agent the pills were fentanyl disguised as Oxycodone, it says.

Weksler asked for Black’s bond to be amended so if he bonded out, he could stay with family in Idaho Falls.

Crosson expressed concerns about Black’s lack of ties to Sublette County, saying, “It is unlikely we will see him again if he gets out.”

Black said he missed an Idaho court appearance for the January charges while he was in Sublette County.

“Also there is the very significant quantity of very dangerous drugs, Crosson said of fentanyl. “He had many different kinds of intoxicating substances with him.”

Judge Tyler amended the bond to $20,000 cash and a requirement Black must wear an electronic tracking device. Black remained in custody at press time.