Maquoketa man convicted of distributing mixture of heroin, synthetic opioid

A Maquoketa man who conspired to distribute a mixture containing heroin and an opioid-related drug to one person who died and two others who were seriously injured pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court.

Joshua Allen Manning, 22, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and furanylfentanyl, an opioid analgesic, resulting in death and serious bodily injury.

During the plea hearing, Manning admitted he agreed to distribute the substances during March 2016. Manning admitted two individuals had serious bodily injuries and another died after using the substances on March 3, 2016.

Under federal law, drugs that are similar to substances listed in the controlled substance schedules are considered 'controlled substance analogues,” and it is illegal to distribute them just like the distribution of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. Furanylfentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid, and is an analogue of fentanyl, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Sentencing hasn't been set at this time. Manning faces up to a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and up to life. Manning remains in U.S. Marshal's custody pending sentencing.