Tyler Skaggs: PR Director Indicted In Relation To Fatal Overdose

SANTA MONICA, CA —Former Los Angeles Angels public relations director Eric Kay has been indicted on two federal counts stemming from the 2019 overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs, according to court papers obtained Friday.

Kay, 45, is charged with distributing the fentanyl that resulted in Skaggs' death. The indictment returned in Texas also alleges Kay and others, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Dallas. Though the other names have not been released, records show they allegedly conspired in possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute, in or before 2017.

Kay was arrested by federal authorities Aug. 7 on a charge of distributing fentanyl but had not yet entered a plea.

Kay's attorney, Michael Molfetta, stated after his client's arrest that Kay would "wait for the appropriate time to address the allegation."

Skaggs, 27, was found dead in his Hilton hotel room at the Southlake Town Square Hilton on July 1, 2019 where the LA Angels stayed awaiting their series with the Texas Rangers.

Nicknamed "Swaggy," Skaggs, grew up in Woodland Hills, played baseball at Santa Monica High School, before he made his way to professional baseball. The Angels drafted him in 2009. He made his major league debut in August 2012. A left-handed pitcher, he underwent "Tommy John" surgery in 2014 after suffering an ulnar collateral ligament tear in his elbow. He is survived by his wife, Carli, whom he married in December of 2018. They had no children.

Read: Tyler Skaggs Died Of Fatal Overdose, Family Outraged

Drug Enforcement Administration special agent Geoffrey Lindenberg alleged in court papers that Kay and others conspired to distribute fentanyl beginning in 2017.

"During the course of the investigation, I learned that (Skaggs) and Kay had a history of narcotic transactions, including several exchanges wherein Kay acquired oxycodone pills for (Skaggs) and others from Kay's source(s) in the days leading up to and surrounding (Skaggs') overdose death," Lindenberg wrote in the affidavit.

The Angels released a statement following Kay's arrest, saying the team continues to grieve Skaggs' death.

"The circumstances surrounding his death are a tragedy that has impacted countless individuals and families," according to the team. "The Angels organization has fully cooperated with law enforcement and Major League Baseball. Additionally, to comprehensively understand the circumstances that led to his death, we hired a former federal prosecutor to conduct an independent investigation.

"We learned that there was unacceptable behavior inconsistent with our code of conduct, and we took steps to address it. Our investigation also confirmed that no one in management was aware or informed of any employee providing opioids to any player, nor that Tyler was using opioids. As we try to heal from the loss of Tyler, we continue to work with authorities as they complete their investigation."

A time for Kay's arraignment is not yet released.

City News Service, Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.

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