Chattanooga man sentenced to 12 years in connection with 2021 overdose death

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / The Joel W. Solomon Federal Building and United States Courthouse and Miller Park are seen before sunrise on March 5, 2023. The historic building houses a post office and courtroom that serves the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / The Joel W. Solomon Federal Building and United States Courthouse and Miller Park are seen before sunrise on March 5, 2023. The historic building houses a post office and courtroom that serves the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

By Sofia Saric May 16, 2025 2 min read

A Chattanooga man was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison in connection with a 2021 overdose death, according to federal court records.

Lafredrick Deon Sails was sentenced before District Judge Travis R. McDonough in Chattanooga’s federal court.

He pleaded guilty Jan. 13 to a lesser offense of distribution of fentanyl as part of an agreement with prosecutors. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.

Initially, Sails was accused of knowingly and intentionally distributing a substance containing fentanyl on or about March 10, 2021, resulting in the death of Melton Brown, the indictment said.

Authorities found Brown dead at his East 26th Street home, according to an affidavit in Sails’ case.