Defendants Charged with Distributing Fentanyl that Resulted in Overdose Death of Carlsbad Woman

According to court records, on September 10, 2023, at approximately 12:23 a.m., San Diego Police Department officers were dispatched for a suspected drug overdose to an apartment complex in Mission Valley. One minute prior, a 911 call had been placed from the victim's phone, in which a male individual reported "overdose, overdose" before ending the call while the dispatcher was trying to explain life saving measures.

Upon arrival, officers located the victim, identified in court records as D.G., lying unconscious on the bathroom floor. A San Diego Police officer pulled D.G. from the bathroom, determined she was not breathing, and began CPR until medical personnel arrived. D.G. was transported to a local hospital where she died five days later, on September 15th.

Within the bathroom where the overdose took place, officers observed a piece of foil with a brown liquid and a chunk of a white substance. Officers also located blue pills on the kitchen counter with "M30" stamped on them. The foil and pills both tested positive for the presence of fentanyl. Federal agents followed the evidence related to the sale of the fatal dose of fentanyl to the defendants.

"DEA in San Diego has made investigating overdose deaths a priority," said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Chrysanthis. "We are committed to bringing drug dealers who poison our communities to justice."

"Behind every fatal overdose is a dealer who put someone's life at risk," said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. "We are holding them accountable to stop the cycle of devastation they perpetuate."

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jill S. Streja and Adam Gordon.

Special Agents and Task Force Officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration's Overdose Response Team (formerly known as Team 10) led the investigation. This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the San Diego Police Department, the La Mesa Police Department, National Guard Counterdrug Task Force and the California Department of Health Care Services to investigate and prosecute the distribution of dangerous illegal drugs-fentanyl in particular-that result in overdose deaths. The Drug Enforcement Administration created the Overdose Response Team as a response to the increase in overdose deaths in San Diego County.

AGENCIES

U.S. Attorney's Office; Homeland Security Investigations; San Diego County District Attorney's Office; San Diego Police Department; La Mesa Police Department; State of California Department of Health Care Services