SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A federal judge has sentenced Udda Kobaba to 20 years in prison for his role in the fentanyl-related death of 15-year-old Kelcy Orr of Vermillion, marking one of the first cases in South Dakota where a teen’s fentanyl poisoning led to a dealer’s sentencing.
Kobaba, now 20, previously pleaded guilty to distributing a controlled substance resulting in death. Prosecutors say he sold fentanyl-laced pills to Evan Nelson in December 2023, knowing they contained the deadly synthetic opioid. Nelson then resold some of the pills to Kelcy, who died after taking just one. Her death occurred on December 23, 2023, just two days before Christmas.
At Monday’s sentencing hearing, Kelcy’s mother, Jenny Orr, delivered a moving and emotional statement in court, calling for justice, not just for her daughter, but for every family shattered by the fentanyl epidemic.
“Kelcy was not just a statistic—she was my daughter, a bright light in our lives,” Orr told the court. “She had no idea that one pill could be deadly, and she didn’t stand a chance.”
Orr emphasized that Kobaba’s actions were not a mistake, but a deliberate choice made out of greed.
“This defendant made a choice—to put profit over human life,” she said. “And it cost my daughter everything.”
Kelcy’s Case Sends a Message
Kelcy’s death has sparked statewide conversation about accountability in the face of the growing fentanyl crisis. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deaths involving illicitly manufactured fentanyl among youth have surged by more than 180% in recent years. Orr cited these statistics in court, warning that the epidemic is “targeting our youth.”
She called Kobaba’s sentencing a “landmark moment” and urged the justice system to continue holding traffickers accountable.
“What happened to Kelcy is proof that no one truly wins when fentanyl is involved,” Orr said. “This sentencing must send a message that echoes beyond this courtroom: those who distribute fentanyl-laced pills will face the full weight of the law.”
A Plea for Reform and Rehabilitation
Orr also pushed for stronger sentencing guidelines and true rehabilitation efforts for drug traffickers, stating that enforcement alone is not enough.
“We cannot allow traffickers to cycle through the system unchecked,” she said. “Justice today means enforcing the strongest possible sentence and demanding proof of real rehabilitation—not just another chance for them to reoffend.”
She outlined a series of rehabilitation requirements she believes should accompany prison time, ranging from vocational training to psychological evaluations and demonstrated accountability after release.
Kelcy’s Legacy
Despite her unimaginable loss, Orr vowed that her daughter’s death would not be in vain.
“Kelcy’s legacy will not be defined by her death—but by the awareness her story brings,” she said.
Through initiatives like Kelcy’s Kicks and work with Emily’s Hope, Orr has committed to educating the public, distributing naloxone, and fighting for policy change in her daughter’s name.
As fentanyl continues to devastate communities across the country, Orr ended her statement with a powerful plea:
“Let this sentencing stand as a warning: those who traffic fentanyl will face consequences. Because my daughter deserved better. And so does every child in this country.”
