Two former Navy sailors admitted they sold fentanyl-laced fake oxycodone to shipmates from the USS Abraham Lincoln, and one sailor died as a result.
Story Highlights
- Justice Department says two ex-sailors pleaded guilty to selling fentanyl-laced pills to active-duty sailors, including during deployments.
- Court reporting says the scheme led to one sailor’s death and another’s hospitalization.
- Witness accounts and chat logs outlined repeat pill sales in 2022, including during deployment.
- The pair pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances in federal court in San Diego.
Guilty Pleas Tie Sales to USS Abraham Lincoln Sailors
Federal prosecutors in San Diego said former sailors Bailey A. Szramowski and Johnnese H. Poomaihealani pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl to active-duty personnel, including during deployments tied to the USS Abraham Lincoln. Prosecutors said the pills moved through peer-to-peer contacts among sailors in 2022 and 2023. Reporters covering the plea hearing said both admitted a single conspiracy count in federal court, which centers on drug distribution to fellow service members.
Military-focused outlets reported the sales caused a deadly overdose of one sailor and sent another to the hospital. The Department of Justice said the pills were represented as oxycodone but contained fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that is often pressed into counterfeit tablets. The case highlights why counterfeit pills are deadly. Users think they are taking a known dose, but the pill can contain enough fentanyl to stop breathing in minutes.
Evidence Described by Investigators and Witnesses
Local coverage of court records said chat messages between a victim and the accused showed months of drug-related talks from September to December 2022, which supports a pattern of sales and use. A witness told investigators that Szramowski sold pills to sailors in 2022, including during a deployment period. One outlet linked a December 2022 sale of ten pills to a sailor assigned to the carrier, which lines up with the later overdose timeline that ended in January 2023.
Reporters said both defendants acted together to reach buyers within their circle of shipmates. The Justice Department’s account focused on counterfeit oxycodone as the product line, stressing that the distribution targeted active-duty personnel in San Diego, including during ship movements and workups. While plea paperwork is not quoted in full in public reports, the admitted conspiracy to distribute controlled substances places both defendants at the core of the scheme.
Why This Matters for Readiness and Accountability
The United States Navy depends on sober, alert crews to launch jets, run reactors, and keep watch in tense waters. Fentanyl-laced pills on a carrier cut straight at that standard. This case shows how a few bad actors can endanger a whole team. A single fake pill can take a life, weaken a unit, and distract leaders from warfighting. Prosecutors sent a clear message: push fentanyl into the ranks, and you will face federal prison.
Two former sailors assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln pleaded guilty on September 14, 2026, to selling counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl to active-duty U.S. Navy service members stationed in San Diego, including during deployments. (📸: MEGA) pic.twitter.com/hWndXBQyXW
— FrontPageDetectives (@FP_Detectives) September 21, 2026
Parents, veterans, and taxpayers expect strong discipline, not drug rings in uniform. The conservative view is simple. We back our troops by backing law and order, strong command oversight, and zero tolerance for dealers who prey on their brothers and sisters in arms. The broader data show counterfeit-pill deaths surged in western states in recent years, which makes strict enforcement and education inside the force even more urgent. One pill can kill, and this case proves it in painful detail.
Wider Fentanyl Pattern Beyond the Fleet
Counterfeit pills have become a major driver of fentanyl deaths in the West. Public health surveillance found evidence of counterfeit-pill use in 4.4 percent of 2021 overdose deaths across reviewed jurisdictions, with a sharp rise in western states from 2019 to 2021. The Department of Justice has pushed the “one pill can kill” warning for years because counterfeit tablets often contain fentanyl at lethal levels. The Navy case sits inside that wider trend, but the stakes are higher when national defense is on the line.
What Comes Next in Court and in the Ranks
The defendants pleaded guilty in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, and they await sentencing under federal guidelines. The plea makes conviction certain, and the record will likely address drug quantities, sale patterns, and the overdose outcome. Navy commanders will continue drug testing, education, and enforcement to protect crews. Families of the dead and harmed sailors will look for closure. Justice demands it, and so does readiness.
Sources:
military.com, militarytimes.com, justice.gov, kpbs.org, yahoo.com, wionews.com, maritime-executive.com
