Updated with sentencing: Eric Kay, the Los Angeles Angels communication director who earlier this year was convicted of distributing a controlled substance that caused the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs in 2019, was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison Tuesday.
The minimum sentence was for 20 years, but Senior U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means added two years because of a lack of remorse from Kay, who was found to have given Skaggs fentanyl the night of his death in a Texas hotel. The pitcher was 27 years old.
A DEA probe found that Kay regularly dealt the fentanyl — blue M/30 pills dubbed “blue boys” – to Skaggs and other team members. Former players including Matt Harvey, C.J. Cron, Mike Morin and Cameron Bedrosian testified at trial that Kay handed out blue 30-milligram oxycodone pills to them as well.
Kay’s sentencing came after prosecutors detailed his lack of remorse, including jailhouse calls and emails that,...
The minimum sentence was for 20 years, but Senior U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means added two years because of a lack of remorse from Kay, who was found to have given Skaggs fentanyl the night of his death in a Texas hotel. The pitcher was 27 years old.
A DEA probe found that Kay regularly dealt the fentanyl — blue M/30 pills dubbed “blue boys” – to Skaggs and other team members. Former players including Matt Harvey, C.J. Cron, Mike Morin and Cameron Bedrosian testified at trial that Kay handed out blue 30-milligram oxycodone pills to them as well.
Kay’s sentencing came after prosecutors detailed his lack of remorse, including jailhouse calls and emails that,...
- 10/12/2022
- by Bruce Haring and Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
The fate of Matt Harvey's baseball career for the time being has been revealed. Harvey—who testified in court in February that he provided the late Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs with drugs—has received a 60-game suspension without pay that retroactively went into effect on April 29, according to MLB.com. According to the site, Harvey's suspension comes as a result of violating the Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Harvey—who once played for the Los Angeles Angels and now is contracted with the Baltimore Orioles—was suspended by Major League Baseball after he provided a testimony in the trial of Eric Kay, per ESPN. Kay, who was...
- 5/18/2022
- E! Online
A court filing late on Friday indicates federal prosecutors will use testimony from at least five Major League Baseball players in the drug-related trial of a former Los Angeles Angels employee.
Ex-Angels Communications Director Eric Kay will stand trial in Fort Worth, Texas this October for giving oxycodone to pitcher Tyler Skaggs, who died of an overdose. But now he stands accused of also providing drugs to other major leaguers.
Kay was accused in the legal filing of being the “singular source” of the oxycodone that killed Skaggs. He allegedly provided some other players with “two to three pills, while others would ask for up to 20 pills.”
“The evidence will also demonstrate that Kay often coordinated the distribution through text messages or through conversations involving the victim [Skaggs],” the filing said. “This witness testimony will in many instances be corroborated by text message communications…. Evidence will also demonstrate that Kay was...
Ex-Angels Communications Director Eric Kay will stand trial in Fort Worth, Texas this October for giving oxycodone to pitcher Tyler Skaggs, who died of an overdose. But now he stands accused of also providing drugs to other major leaguers.
Kay was accused in the legal filing of being the “singular source” of the oxycodone that killed Skaggs. He allegedly provided some other players with “two to three pills, while others would ask for up to 20 pills.”
“The evidence will also demonstrate that Kay often coordinated the distribution through text messages or through conversations involving the victim [Skaggs],” the filing said. “This witness testimony will in many instances be corroborated by text message communications…. Evidence will also demonstrate that Kay was...
- 8/21/2021
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
The federal Drug Enforcement Agency has charged former Los Angeles Angels director of communications Eric Kay with supplying the drugs that killed pitcher Tyler Skaggs last year.
Skaggs was found dead in his Texas hotel room from choking on his own vomit after ingesting a lethal mix of alcohol and the painkillers fentanyl and oxycodone. He was 27 years old and in town for his team’s game against the Texas Rangers.
Kay has been charged with illegal possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a controlled substance, by Erin Nealy Cox, the US Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. .
“Tyler Skaggs’ overdose — coming, as it did, in the midst of an ascendant baseball career — should be a wake-up call: No one is immune from this deadly drug, whether sold as a powder or hidden inside an innocuous-looking tablet,” Nealy Cox said.
Skaggs was found dead in his Texas hotel room from choking on his own vomit after ingesting a lethal mix of alcohol and the painkillers fentanyl and oxycodone. He was 27 years old and in town for his team’s game against the Texas Rangers.
Kay has been charged with illegal possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a controlled substance, by Erin Nealy Cox, the US Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. .
“Tyler Skaggs’ overdose — coming, as it did, in the midst of an ascendant baseball career — should be a wake-up call: No one is immune from this deadly drug, whether sold as a powder or hidden inside an innocuous-looking tablet,” Nealy Cox said.
- 8/7/2020
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
The ongoing investigation into the drug-related death of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs has seen a number of his former teammates questioned.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the players were questioned last month by the Drug Enforcement Administration. They were asked about opiate abuse on the team and during its travel. They also asked questions about how Skaggs obtained the fentanyl and oxycodone that played a role in his death on July 1, when he choked on his own vomit in a Dallas hotel room.
An Angels employee, team communications director Eric Kay, has said he gave opioids to Skaggs. He also said the team was aware of his actions.
The four Angels players questioned include Andrew Heaney, Trevor Cahill, Noe Ramirez and Matt Harvey, the latter no longer with the team. The players interviewed are not suspected of drug use, sources told the Times.
Kay is on paid...
The Los Angeles Times reported that the players were questioned last month by the Drug Enforcement Administration. They were asked about opiate abuse on the team and during its travel. They also asked questions about how Skaggs obtained the fentanyl and oxycodone that played a role in his death on July 1, when he choked on his own vomit in a Dallas hotel room.
An Angels employee, team communications director Eric Kay, has said he gave opioids to Skaggs. He also said the team was aware of his actions.
The four Angels players questioned include Andrew Heaney, Trevor Cahill, Noe Ramirez and Matt Harvey, the latter no longer with the team. The players interviewed are not suspected of drug use, sources told the Times.
Kay is on paid...
- 10/17/2019
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
The late Tyler Skaggs, who choked to death on his own vomit in July after ingesting opiates, was given the drugs by a team employee of the Los Angeles Angels, according to an ESPN report.
Skaggs died in July in a Texas hotel room at age 27. An autopsy found fentanyl, oxycodone and alcohol in his body, and the death is currently being probed by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Major League Baseball, the police and the team.
Angels public relations rep Eric Kay told probers he gave Skaggs oxycodone and abused the drug with him for years, according to ESPN. He also said two team officials were told about the player’s drug use before his death.
Five additional Angels players used opiates while on the team, Kay told Kay told DEA agents. All Mlb players are randomly tested for drugs by Major League Baseball during the season, and at the start of spring training.
Skaggs died in July in a Texas hotel room at age 27. An autopsy found fentanyl, oxycodone and alcohol in his body, and the death is currently being probed by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Major League Baseball, the police and the team.
Angels public relations rep Eric Kay told probers he gave Skaggs oxycodone and abused the drug with him for years, according to ESPN. He also said two team officials were told about the player’s drug use before his death.
Five additional Angels players used opiates while on the team, Kay told Kay told DEA agents. All Mlb players are randomly tested for drugs by Major League Baseball during the season, and at the start of spring training.
- 10/13/2019
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.