35-year-old Manuel Alejandro Acevedo of County Home Road in Conover has been sentenced after pleading guilty to felony death by distribution. He entered the plea in Catawba County Superior Court on Monday (September 18). Acevedo was given a 67-to-93 month active sentence in the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections.

The case originated in February of last year with the death of Jenny Sunshine Powell. Ms. Powell died from an overdose of fentanyl after purchasing the narcotic from Acevedo. Acevedo was indicted in April 2022.

The case represents one of the first convictions in Catawba County under the new statute. Catawba County Sheriff’s Investigators worked closely with the District Attorney’s office during the investigation.