A Memphis man has been sentenced to more than 24 years in federal prison after being convicted of distributing heroin and carfentanil that caused a fatal overdose in Mississippi, federal prosecutors announced.
Chief U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Steven McCurdy, 46, also known as “Stephen McCurdy,” “Kroger Man,” and “Plug Tunchii,” to 292 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Because the case was prosecuted in federal court, McCurdy will not be eligible for parole.
According to prosecutors, on May 11, 2020, McCurdy sold what the buyer believed was heroin to a victim identified as W.B. and another individual. The pair later went to a home in Byhalia, Mississippi, where they used the drugs.
The surviving witness later awoke to find W.B. unresponsive and called 911. First responders pronounced the victim dead at the scene. An autopsy by the Mississippi Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death was a combination of heroin and carfentanil toxicity.
During McCurdy’s three-day trial, another witness testified that they knew him by the nicknames “Kroger Man” and “Plug Tunchii” and had purchased narcotics from him around the same time as the fatal overdose.
Federal investigators also testified that McCurdy admitted during an FBI interview following his arrest that he sold marijuana and other narcotics, although he claimed no one had overdosed after using drugs he distributed.
A federal jury found McCurdy guilty on April 2, 2026, following a three-day trial.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said illegal drug trafficking is not a victimless crime and that dealers play a central role in the cycle of addiction and overdose deaths. He said authorities will continue pursuing those who distribute deadly narcotics.
FBI Nashville Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly said McCurdy’s sentence sends a message that individuals who profit from selling dangerous drugs, including heroin and carfentanil, will be held accountable.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Byhalia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bryce H. Phillips and Wendy K. Caceres, along with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Ronquillo of the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, prosecuted the case.
