Former U.S. Navy Sailors Plead Guilty To Selling Fentanyl-Laced Pills Aboard Aircraft Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln

Two former U.S. Navy sailors pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to selling counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl to fellow sailors, including crew members of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.

The case involves the death of one sailor and the hospitalisation of another.

Bailey A. Szramowski, 29, and his wife, Johnnese H. Poomaihealani, 25, were both sailors. They pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, the U.S. Justice Department said.

According to court records, Szramowski gave 10 pills sold as oxycodone to a sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in December 2022.

The sailor, identified as A.N., overdosed and died from fentanyl poisoning the following month while on leave in San Leandro, California.

Police found evidence of drug use at the scene. A later toxicology test confirmed that A.N. died from fentanyl intoxication.

Ten days later, Szramowski sold three more pills sold as oxycodone to another sailor aboard the Lincoln, identified as C.L., according to court records.

C.L. was later taken to hospital after an apparent overdose. He survived.

He later told investigators that A.N. and Szramowski had been selling Percocet pills to other sailors for about a year. Court documents say the pills were likely counterfeit.

C.L. said Szramowski sold the pills aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during its 2022 deployment. He also said Szramowski continued selling them after the carrier returned to San Diego, California.

The pills were sold as oxycodone but contained fentanyl, according to court records.

Szramowski allegedly ordered the pills through the mail and received them at a post office box in Coronado, California. He then collected payments from sailors through Cash App.

C.L. agreed to cooperate with a Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigation into drug sales aboard the Lincoln and A.N.’s death.

After C.L. was taken to hospital, Szramowski and Poomaihealani called him.

According to court records, they told C.L. to tell law enforcement that he had received the pills from A.N., not Szramowski.

Szramowski is also accused of asking A.N.’s family to delete text messages between him and A.N. from A.N.’s phone after his death.

The family refused, according to the complaint.

The complaint says Szramowski told family members that he “might go down for murder” or that the messages could “ruin his future”, or words to that effect.

Szramowski joined the USS Abraham Lincoln in May 2021 after completing boot camp and surface combat systems training at Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois.

He was promoted to logistics specialist third class in June 2024.

Court records say the alleged drug sales involved Navy sailors in San Diego, including sailors aboard the Lincoln. The sales took place during the carrier’s 2022 deployment and continued after it returned to San Diego.

Szramowski and Poomaihealani were first charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. On Monday, they pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

Szramowski faces five to 40 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $5 million.

Poomaihealani faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $1 million.

They are scheduled to be sentenced on December 11.

References: U.S. government, Navy Times