CHARLESTON, S.C. — A Goose Creek man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison after distributing fentanyl‑laced pills that led to the death of well‑known Charleston lawyer David Aylor, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.
According to investigators, 48‑year‑old Levi Phillip Miles supplied prescription pain pills to Aylor — his cousin and employer — for roughly a year, beginning in January 2022. Aylor, a high‑profile criminal defense and personal injury attorney, was a familiar figure in the Lowcountry legal community and operated one of the region’s most recognizable law firms.
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By mid‑2022, Miles could no longer obtain legitimate prescription pills. But in December, investigators say Aylor continued requesting pain medication, prompting Miles to seek pills from an alternate source.
On January 1, 2023, Miles provided Aylor with what he believed were genuine pain pills. They were counterfeit and laced with fentanyl. Aylor was found dead in his home the next day. An autopsy confirmed fentanyl in his system, and investigators later tied the drugs directly to the pills Miles supplied.
As part of his guilty plea, Miles agreed not to contest that the substances he distributed caused Aylor’s death.
Fentanyl — a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin — has become the leading driver of overdose deaths in the United States. Much of the fentanyl found in counterfeit pills is pressed to look like legitimate prescription medication, making it nearly impossible for users to detect. Federal officials say even a tiny amount can be fatal.
“This case is yet another example of the tragic realities of fentanyl in our communities. One pill can kill,” U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling said in a statement. “We send our condolences to the loved ones of Mr. Aylor and hope this sentence brings a sense of closure.”
U.S. District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks sentenced Miles to 60 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and imposed a $40,000 fine. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whit Sowards and Emily Limehouse.
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