BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — A Fayetteville man arrested in June for allegedly causing two overdose deaths and trafficking fentanyl has pleaded not guilty.
Gabriel Dean Gass, 25, was arrested on June 20 this year. Between two separate cases, he is charged with delivery of fentanyl, possession of fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia, tampering with physical evidence, and two counts of aggravated death by delivery.
According to a probable cause affidavit submitted by a detective with the Bentonville Police Department and Benton County Drug Unit, Gass was connected to two 2024 overdose deaths less than a week apart.
The affidavit says that on June 10, Brodie Alexander Black was found dead of a fentanyl overdose. On June 15, Andrew Walker Tucker Jr. was found dead, also due to a fentanyl overdose.
Detectives were able to extract digital data from the victims' phones and on June 19 were able to view conversations between the victims and Gass, according to the affidavit.
One conversation indicates that Gass delivered four fentanyl pills to Black the day before his death, the affidavit said. Another conversation, this one two days before Tucker's death, indicates that Gass delivered three fentanyl pills to the victim.
According to court documents, a confidential informant assisted in the investigation, stating that "Gass would be in possession of a large quantity of fentanyl he was receiving from Tulsa."
The affidavit says that Gass had been the subject of an ongoing narcotics investigation and was a known narcotics dealer.
A separate affidavit details that a different confidential informant indicated they could buy fentanyl from Gass and proceeded to set up a controlled buy in Benton County on June 20.
The informant was equipped with an audio listening device and driven to the deal location by undercover detectives with the Benton County Drug Unit, with members of numerous other law enforcement agencies and drug units on standby in the area for "safety, security, and containment," the affidavit said.
Gass allegedly sold the informant six fentanyl pills and was arrested shortly after. During an interview with police, he admitted that he sold fentanyl to "maybe three people," the affidavit said.
Court documents say that Gass acknowledged he sold fentanyl to Black and Tucker on the dates in question. He was aware that Black was deceased, but unaware of Tucker's death.
Gass is being held on a $1 million bond for all charges. His next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 10 in Benton County.
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