‘Career Drug Dealer’ Whose Fentanyl Supply Led to the Death of a 5-Year-Old Girl Jailed up to 30 Years

Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that a Cambria County man will serve 13 to 30 years in prison for his latest drug-trafficking offense — which led to the death of 5-year-old Alaia Young.

Albert Spicer, 36, was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty previously to four counts of possession with intent to deliver and related charges.

Cambria County Judge Norman A. Krumenacker called Spicer a “career drug dealer” who was selling fentanyl, which is causing death and destruction in communities everywhere. Spicer had at least six prior drug-dealing convictions, beginning when he was 17.

Spicer was one of three people charged following the October 2022 death of Alaia and a parallel investigation into Spicer’s drug dealing. The investigation determined that Spicer, who was on parole, supplied fentanyl/heroin to the child’s mother, who then went home and allowed the child to have access to the fentanyl. The child then ingested the fentanyl, causing the fatal overdose.

“This defendant is the stem that caused an unthinkable tragedy — the death of a purely innocent five-year-old girl,” Attorney General Henry said. “His drug trafficking days have lasted long enough, and this sentence will ensure it will be many years before he can possibly pose another risk to society.”

The charges arose from an investigation conducted by the 49th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury with the assistance and guidance of the Office of Attorney General and the Johnstown Police Department.

The child’s mother, Volaura Askew, has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and related charges, and is serving a 2-to-4-year state prison sentence. A third person, Elyse Young (a girlfriend of Spicer’s), is charged with allowing her residence to be used by Spicer as a stash house. Young’s charges are still pending.