(March 5, 2021) - A Cape Coral man was sentenced to nearly two decades in prison for distributing narcotics that resulted in the buyer’s death by overdose, a very rare outcome in cases of its kind.
In March of 2019, Steven Telgenhof (W/M, DOB: 4-21-92) sold the victim approximately one gram of fentanyl, which the victim ingested later that evening. The victim was found unresponsive by family members the following morning, and passed away from acute fentanyl toxicity four days later. Detectives immediately went to work putting together a thorough and nuanced case, ultimately resulting in Telgenhof’s guilty plea and sentencing to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison.
From the Cape Coral Police Department’s DEA Task Force Detective:
On March 4, 2021 the sentencing in the Steven Telgenhof case took place. Mr. Telgenhof was sentenced to 210 months in a Federal Prison for his role in the overdose death of a 25-year old Cape Coral man. Locally in Southwest Florida, it is my understanding that this is only the second successful prosecution of a drug dealer that sold to a person that ultimately died as a result of the drugs sold. The United States Attorney’s Office in Fort Myers, specifically AUSA Mike Leeman, was very complimentary of the work done by the Cape Coral Police Department and the DEA’s personnel in this investigation. From the initial response by patrol units, to the follow up work done detectives / agents / TFO’s and the evidence processed by the forensic unit.
This case presented many obstacles that were successfully navigated by the team work of everyone that was involved.
The family of the deceased was present in court during the sentencing and hopefully they now have some closure for their loss.
Click below for the press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office:
United States Attorney’s Office for Middle District of Florida News Release
SENTENCED: Steven Clements Telgenhof, W/M, DOB: 4-21-93, of Cape Coral, FL.
CHARGES: Possession of Fentanyl, Possession of Fentanyl With Intent to Distribute
SENTENCE: 17 years, 6 months
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CAPE CORAL POLICE DEPARTMENT | Public Affairs Office | 1100 Cultural Park Boulevard | Cape Coral, FL 33990 | (239) 242-3341