A Hensley mother and daughter are facing a minimum of 20 years in federal prison after being convicted in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy that resulted in a fatal overdose.
On April 2, 2024, a federal grand jury indicted 62-year-old April Adams and her daughter, 38-year-old Amber Church, on multiple drug charges. This Wednesday, following a three-day trial and just over four hours of jury deliberation, both women were convicted on all counts.
The jury found both Adams and Church guilty of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Adams was additionally convicted of distributing methamphetamine, while Church was convicted of distributing fentanyl.
The charges stem from an April 16, 2023, incident in Saline County when sheriff’s deputies responded to multiple overdoses at a home on Crab Apple Circle. Officers discovered four individuals had overdosed. Despite medical personnel administering Narcan, one person died at the scene while three others survived.
During the trial, two of the survivors testified that Adams initially provided methamphetamine to the group, including Church and the victim. Later, Church asked her mother for what she referred to as “cocaine” from Adams’ room and distributed it to the group, using some herself.
Almost immediately after ingesting the substance — which turned out to be fentanyl — all four users began losing consciousness, including Church herself. Adams, who did not take the drug, waited approximately 45 minutes before seeking help, calling a friend instead of emergency services.
Adams and Church will remain in federal custody while awaiting sentencing by United States District Court Judge James M. Moody, Jr. Both face a statutory minimum of 20 years in federal prison for the fentanyl charges, along with fines of up to $1 million and at least three years of supervised release. Adams could receive an additional 20 years on the methamphetamine charge.
The case was investigated by the Saline County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward Walker and Jordan Crews.
