This morning, Joshua Robert Pulley was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to life in prison as a Habitual Felony Offender for First-Degree Murder – Unlawful Distribution of Fentanyl and 30 years in prison as a Habitual Felony Offender for Sale or Delivery of Fentanyl.
He was convicted in November 2024, for the death of a woman, following a trial in Lee County. This case was the first time in Lee County that a defendant had gone to trial on these charges. Pulley was indicted by the Lee County Grand Jury in July 2023.
Assistant State Attorney Sara Miller, of the State Attorney’s Office Homicide Unit, and Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney Paul Poland prosecuted the case.
In December 2022, Pulley provided drugs to the victim after meeting her in the parking lot of a restaurant in Fort Myers. Evidence at trial showed the defendant was also texting the victim about the meet up.
The victim returned home and was found in her bedroom, unresponsive, later that night. Her roommate called emergency responders, but she could not be revived. The Fort Myers Police Department then began an investigation. The Medical Examiner determined the victim died from a Fentanyl overdose.
“Those who pedal illegal drugs thrive on exploitation and greed, recklessly endangering and destroying the lives of others, to make a quick dollar. This will not be tolerated. If anyone provides illegal drugs to another person and it is proven they died as a result of taking those drugs, they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for murder,” said State Attorney Amira Fox.
Samantha Syoen – State Attorney’s Office Communications Director