Two Colorado Springs residents, Eugene Edwards, 57, and Destiny Benjamin, 30, have been charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in the death of a 15-year-old girl. The charges were announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
Court documents allege that Edwards distributed fentanyl pills to a juvenile female who died from fentanyl intoxication. On June 7, 2025, emergency responders found the girl unresponsive in Colorado Springs and declared her deceased at the scene. Investigators discovered nine blue pills marked “M” and “30,” wrapped in a receipt later linked to Edwards.
The criminal complaint states that messages on the victim’s phone showed she arranged to meet Edwards at an elementary school in Colorado Springs on the night before her death to buy pills. Surveillance footage confirmed Edwards’ car was seen near the school. About an hour later, video recorded the victim outside her home smoking what appeared to be fentanyl; she died shortly after.
Edwards has multiple prior felony convictions for drug offenses, robbery, and burglary. He was arrested on June 13, 2025. Investigators found suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine in his vehicle, including ten fentanyl pills wrapped in a receipt. During questioning by law enforcement, Edwards said he got the fentanyl pills from Destiny Benjamin.
The complaint further alleges that cell phone records and text messages between Edwards and Benjamin reveal an unlawful relationship involving money exchanged for drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine. According to investigators, Edwards stated that Benjamin was his only current source of supply for fentanyl pills.
Benjamin was also arrested on June 13, 2025. At the time of arrest, authorities seized fentanyl, methamphetamine, and a loaded handgun from her. She told investigators she provided illegal narcotics to Edwards.
Both defendants made their initial appearance in Federal Court in Denver on July 28, 2025. A United States Magistrate Judge advised them of the charges pending against them.
“Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, resulting in death, carries a potential penalty of no less than 20 years and up to life in prison, a fine of no more than $1,000,000, and no less than three years of supervised release.”
“The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Colorado Springs Police Department Metro, Vice, Narcotics, and Intelligence (MVNI) Unit, and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office participated in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alyssa Christine Mance and Alexander Duncan are handling the prosecution.”
“The charge in the criminal complaint is an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Case Number: 25-MJ-00145-CYC
