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Jail Inmate Found Guilty of Murder for Fentanyl Overdoses

(Lawrenceville, Ga., 3/17/25) -  A jailhouse Fentanyl dealer killed two Gwinnett County inmates and was sentenced to life in prison.

Harry Fomby, 54, was found guilty of two counts of felony murder, violation of Georgia’s Controlled Substance Abuse Act, and two counts of possession of prohibited items by inmates in connection with the September 2021 deaths of 22-year-old Corey Leemarie Bryant and 36-year-old Ian Jabar Longshore.

“Fentanyl is a deadly drug, and no matter who you are or where you are, this is not a substance to be toyed with,” Gwinnett District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “Two men lost the chance to turn around their lives because of this substance. We pray for their respective families and continue to advocate for prevention of any distribution of this drug in Gwinnett County.”

On Sept. 6, 2021, Longshore and Bryant were found dead in their jail cells. Gwinnett County Correctional Facility medical staff determined that both men had died from an overdose of Fentanyl and Xylazine. Several inmates informed correctional officers that Fomby had smuggled the drugs into the jail. Investigators were able to confirm the information, and during the trial footage of Fomby’s X-ray scan when he was booked into the jail showed a small circular item concealed between his legs.

Video footage from the jail unit that played during the trial showed Longshore walk to Fomby’s cell and retrieve a small item that was slid under the door. Subsequent footage showed Longshore leave commissary items in front of Fomby’s cell which Fomby later picked up.

During the trial, prosecutors played a recording of Fomby on a jail phone call telling a woman that he was making “maneuvers” inside the jail. When interviewed by investigators, he blamed his cell mate.

The jury deliberated for two-and-a-half hours before returning the guilty verdict. Fomby was ordered to serve two life sentences.

Gwinnett County Drug and Gang Task Force Assistant District Attorneys David Ian and Brian Trepanier prosecuted the case. DA’s DGTF investigators Yayoi Huggins and John Wilbanks, DA’s investigators Doug Loomis and David Brucz, and victim witness advocate Trina Bradford assisted with the case. The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations were also instrumental in closing the case.

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