Man linked to jail fentanyl overdoses sentenced to 15 years in heroin case

A Coeur d’Alene man prosecutors say was connected to a mass fentanyl overdose at the Kootenai County Jail was sentenced last week to 15 years in prison for separate heroin trafficking convictions. First District Judge Casey Simmons ordered the sentence, with parole eligibility after four years.

Raymond D. Spezzi, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of delivery of heroin, seven counts of possession of heroin with intent to deliver, and possession of major contraband, all felonies. Prosecutors say the trafficking charges stem from a 2016 undercover operation in which officers used a confidential informant to buy heroin from Spezzi. A grand jury indicted him in 2017, and a warrant followed; Spezzi evaded arrest for eight years before he was apprehended in South Carolina in 2025.

The sentence comes against the backdrop of a December incident at the Kootenai County Jail in which six inmates, including Spezzi, overdosed on fentanyl. All six were taken to Kootenai Health for treatment and later returned to custody. Prosecutors subsequently charged Spezzi with possession of major contraband; the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office has opened an investigation into how fentanyl entered the jail.

Spezzi’s criminal history, prosecutors say, includes prior convictions for possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm and multiple probation violations. The new 15-year sentence addresses the narcotics trafficking case that originated nearly a decade ago, while the separate contraband charge tied to the jail overdose remains part of ongoing inquiries.

For residents of Kootenai County, the case underscores two pressing local concerns: how dangerous opioids like fentanyl are getting into detention facilities, and how long-running investigations and interstate fugitive issues can intersect with public safety. The fact that a suspect in a nationwide flight-to-avoid-arrest case was located in South Carolina highlights the regional coordination law enforcement must maintain to arrest long-evading suspects and to keep communities safe.

The December overdoses also tested local emergency response and medical capacity; Kootenai Health treated multiple inmates before they were returned to the jail, showing how hospital and corrections systems must work in tandem when overdoses occur. The sheriff’s investigation into jail contraband will be closely watched by families of inmates and the broader community seeking assurance that custody environments are secure.

The takeaway? Stay tuned to Sheriff’s Office updates and county briefings about contraband prevention and inmate safety. Our two cents? Keep the conversation local—ask elected officials how the county is strengthening jail screening and overdose prevention, and consider supporting community training and resources that reduce harm from fentanyl in our neighborhoods.