Farmington Man Admits Supplying Fentanyl to Man Who Died of Overdose

CAPE GIRARDEAU - A man from Farmington, Missouri on Thursday admitted supplying fentanyl to a man shortly before the victim's overdose death.

James B. Link, 31, pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of distribution of fentanyl. He admitted that in messages with the victim on June 14, 2025, he discussed bringing fentanyl pills to the victim. Link's vehicle was spotted leaving the victim's home shortly before the death. The next day, investigators interviewed Link, who admitted delivering blue and yellow pills containing fentanyl to the victim shortly before he died. Investigators found those same blue and yellow pills in Link's house.

Link is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9. The charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and fine.

The Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff's Office, the Mineral Area Drug Task Force and the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Shelton is prosecuting the case.