A Colorado man has been sentenced to 22 years in prison after admitting he sold fentanyl connected to a fatal overdose in Fort Collins. The case centers on the 2023 death of 43-year-old Jessica Lange, whose family waited nearly three years for answers.
Larimer County District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin said fentanyl continues to devastate communities across Colorado. “Fentanyl remains an incredible danger in our communities, tearing families apart and claiming far too many lives,” he said after the court issued the sentence.
Deputies and paramedics were called to a Fort Collins home after a 911 report that Jessica Lange would not wake up. According to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, she died sometime during the night of July 26 or early July 27, 2023.
For months investigators worked through phone records, digital messages, and other evidence to trace how the drugs moved through the community. By March 2024 the trail led detectives to three people authorities say played roles in supplying the fentanyl.
Investigators ultimately identified Roland Rideout, Gary Brown, and Diane Petryszyn as part of the chain connected to the fatal dose. Officials say Rideout supplied the drugs directly. “Fentanyl is destroying lives in our community,” Sheriff’s Capt. Bobby Moll said.
Roland Rideout pleaded guilty in December 2025 to possessing more than fifty grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute, a Class 1 drug felony under Colorado law. Prosecutors dropped two other charges as part of the agreement, including distribution resulting in death.
Larimer County Judge Joseph Findley later imposed a 22-year state prison sentence and credited Rideout with about two years already served in custody. Prosecutors said the outcome reflected the seriousness of trafficking large amounts of fentanyl within the community.
The other defendants received different penalties. Gary Brown pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison. Diane Petryszyn admitted the same charge and received probation, drug treatment, and education requirements.
Investigators say fentanyl distribution cases take a lot of coordination between police, prosecutors, and forensic analysts. Digital evidence, phone records, and lab drug testing often make up the core of these cases. Each step can move slowly, but officials say careful investigations are necessary.
Larimer County Sheriff’s Capt. Bobby Moll said the goal behind these efforts is preventing future tragedies. He explained that fentanyl keeps destroying lives in the community. Moll also said officers will continue working with partners, because every pill taken out of circulation matters.
Authorities say cases like this highlight why enforcement remains important alongside treatment programs. Distribution networks are often complicated and involve several people. Investigators believe that identifying suppliers and removing drugs from circulation can reduce the chances of more overdose deaths happening.
Across Colorado, conversations continue about how communities should respond to the fentanyl crisis. Some leaders emphasize stronger prosecution, while others stress expanded treatment access. Officials say both strategies will likely remain central as overdose deaths continue affecting families statewide.
Sheriff’s Capt. Bobby Moll said investigations often stretch across months because supply chains rarely involve one person. “Every pill we get off the street is a potential life saved,” he said. Many officials believe coordinated enforcement will remain essential.