Tanner Usrey Addresses Felony Drug Charges Brought Against Him

A statement from Tanner Usrey issued via his representative provides more context about his arrest on DWI and drug charges that occurred on March 30.

It also addresses the “1/1-B” penalty group classification of one of those charges, which suggests that the arresting officers or sheriff’s department could have suspected that Usrey was in possession of fentanyl or a fentanyl-derived substance.

What Did Tanner Usrey Say About His Arrest?

Usrey said that he attended a birthday party before the arrest took place.

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“I was arrested for possession of drugs and a DWI,” the singer’s statement reads. “I know situations like this can be disappointing, and I take responsibility for putting myself in a position where this could happen.”

“There has been speculation that I was arrested for possessing fentanyl or fentanyl-laced substances,” Usrey continued. “Because this is an ongoing legal matter, I’ve been advised to keep my comments limited. What I can say is that fentanyl is an extremely dangerous and deadly drug, and its impact on this country is undeniable.”

Was Tanner Usrey in Possession of Fentanyl at the Time of His Arrest?

Not necessarily.

One of Usrey’s three charges is for possession of between 4-200 grams of a controlled substance in the Penalty Group 1/1-B.

The 1-B penalty group was added to Texas’ Health and Safety Code in 2021 and specifically refers to fentanyl and fentanyl-derived substances, according to Texas legislature.

The substances seized from Usrey’s possession are being tested, according to his statement, and the results aren’t in yet. If the drugs do test positive for fentanyl, it’s possible that they could have been laced with fentanyl without the singer’s knowledge.

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In his statement, Usrey definitively said, “At no time have I knowingly possessed or ingested fentanyl, and I would never condone that behavior.”

“I have no reason to believe the results will show the presence of fentanyl, and I would be genuinely surprised if they did,” he continues. “That said, if fentanyl were to be detected, I would view this situation as a blessing in disguise, one that may have ultimately protected me from something much worse.”

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Usrey’s representative, Layne Lindroth of C3 management, also expressed objections to Taste of Country’s original reporting, saying she does “not appreciate [Taste of Country]’s headline choice heavily implying the definitive discovery of fentanyl.”

The 1-B Penalty Group was specifically created to refer to fentanyl, and fentanyl is the only drug listed in this Penalty Group.

Taste of Country spoke to the Collins County Jail, the McKinney Sheriff’s Office and the McKinney Police Department to confirm the charges brought against Usrey.

Lindroth asserted that “the charge is for possession of a drug in class 1 or 1-B.”

On Monday (April 6), Taste of Country again reached the McKinney Police Department to ask if it’s typical for arresting officers to include the 1-B classification on charges related to Penalty Group 1. They declined to comment.

What Other Charges Is Tanner Usrey Facing?

In addition to the possession charge in Penalty Group 1/1-B, Usrey was hit with another possession charge for between 4-400 grams in Penalty Group 2, which includes drugs like MDMA, psilocybin, amphetamines and THC concentrates.

Like his other drug charge, that’s a second-degree felony if it leads to a conviction.

Usrey also faces a Class A misdemeanor DWI charge.

What Else Did Tanner Usrey Say About His Arrest?

In Usrey’s statement, he says he’s focused on learning from his arrest. He also expressed gratitude for all the support he’s received.

“I’m grateful for all the support, prayers and patience many of you have shown me,” the singer concludes. “I don’t take that for granted.”

“My focus right now is on learning from this, making better decisions and coming out the other side a better man,” he notes. “I truly appreciate you all, and I look forward to seeing you at the next show.”