Newberry woman sentenced to 15 years in prison for selling drugs to man who died a few hours later

Staff report

NEWBERRY, Fla. – Amanda Ruth Copley, 48, has been sentenced to three concurrent 15-year prison sentences and four concurrent 5-year sentences after pleading to seven felonies, including second-degree murder.

Copley was arrested on August 8, 2023 and charged with two counts of selling opium derivatives within 1000 feet of a school, maintaining a drug dwelling, using a two-way communications device to facilitate a felony, fraud, and money laundering after allegedly selling pills to a man who died of a fentanyl overdose a short time later. The pills were sold as oxycodone hydrochloride, but a green powder found with the pills (which were also green) tested positive for fentanyl. A grand jury issued an indictment for first-degree murder on October 9, 2023. 

On March 11, 2025, Copley entered a plea of nolo contendere to the four original charges, a lesser included offense of second-degree murder, and violating probation in a 2020 case. According to the plea document, the maximum sentence for the charges is a life sentence in prison, and the plea specified three 15-year sentences and two 5-year sentences, all to run concurrently with two five-year sentences for violating probation.

Judge David Kreider sentenced Copley to 15 years in prison with credit for 582 days served on the murder charges, 15 years for selling opioids within 1,000 feet of a school with a three-year mandatory minimum, 15 years for possession of opioids with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school with a three-year mandatory minimum, five years for unlawful use of a two-way communications device, five years for maintaining a drug dwelling, five years for violating probation on a grand theft charge, and five years for violating probation for fraudulent use of a credit card, all concurrent, meaning she will serve a total of 15 years with credit for 582 days served.