PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A Pike County man will spend the rest of his life in prison, after being found guilty of smuggling drugs into the Pike County Detention, resulting in the death of one person.

Back in October, a jury found Justin Bryant, 38, of Shelbiana, guilty of conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl and distributing fentanyl resulting in death.

A federal jury found that Bryant smuggled drugs containing fentanyl into the jail, causing one person to die. The judge also determined at sentencing that there was reliable evidence connecting Bryant to another overdose death two months earlier.

Despite that, prosecutors say Bryant attempted to smuggle drugs into the jail two more times, but was prevented from doing so by Pikeville Police and jail staff.

Bryant also has an extensive criminal history, having racked up 30 convictions over the past 20 years.