Ex-LA Angels communications director Eric Kay sentenced to 22 YEARS in Tyler Skaggs overdose death

Former Los Angeles Angels communications director Eric Kay was sentenced to 22 years in prison after being convicted for providing the drugs that led to Tyler Skaggs’ death.

Kay, dressed in an orange jumpsuit with handcuffs and leg shackles, didn’t react when U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means read his sentence. Kay faced at least 20 years in prison on one of the two counts.

There was no reaction from Skaggs’ widow and mother or members of Kay’s family, including one of his sons who testified on his behalf before sentencing.

Prosecutors presented evidence of Kay, 48, making derogatory comments about Skaggs, his family, prosecutors and jurors in phone calls and emails after he was convicted in February.

Judge Terry Means said he was ‘dreading’ the sentence for Kay, due to disagreement with the 20-yr minimum. However, following Kay’s disparaging comments on the jury, prosecutors, Skaggs and his family Judge Means added two years in response.

The family of Tyler Skaggs released a statement following Kay’s sentencing. It read: ‘We are very grateful to everyone who worked so hard to investigate and prosecute Eric Kay. 

Former Los Angeles Angels communications director Eric Kay was sentenced to 22 years in prison after being convicted for providing the drugs that led to Tyler Skaggs’ death

Tyler Skaggs, 27, was found dead July 1, 2019, in a Texas hotel after choking to death on his vomit. He had a toxic mix of alcohol, fentanyl and oxycodone in his system

There was no reaction from Skaggs’ widow, Carli Skaggs, who testified in February, and his mother or members of Kay’s family including one of his sons who testified on his behalf

‘Today’s sentencing isn’t about the number of years the defendant received. The real issue in this case is holding accountable the people who are distributing the deadly drug fentanyl. It is killing tens of thousands of people every year in our country and destroying families along with it. 

‘We will continue the fight to hold responsible those who allowed Kay to provide a deadly drug to Tyler. But for their actions, Tyler would still be with us today.’ 

There was emotional testimony from both sides in federal court in Fort Worth, about 15 miles from where the Angels were supposed to open a four-game series against the Texas Rangers on July 1, 2019, the day Skaggs was found dead in a suburban Dallas hotel room.

Members of the Los Angeles Angels place their jerseys with No. 45 in honor of pitcher Tyler Skaggs on the mound after a combined no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners during a baseball game, July 12, 2019

Kay was convicted on one count each of drug distribution resulting in death and drug conspiracy.

A coroner´s report said Skaggs, 27, had choked to death on his vomit and that a toxic mix of alcohol, fentanyl and oxycodone was in his system.

The trial included testimony from five major league players who said they received oxycodone pills from Kay at various times from 2017-19, the years Kay was accused of obtaining pills and giving them to players at Angel Stadium. Kay also used drugs himself, according to testimony and court documents.