SANTA ANA, Calif.—The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Friday, April 22, seven federal criminal cases against alleged drug dealers who sold fentanyl-laced narcotics that caused fatal overdoses in Orange County, including one case in which three people died in Newport Beach, California.
All seven defendants are charged with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. If convicted, each would face a minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a potential life sentence without parole.
“Often when we discuss the rampant rise of drug-caused deaths there is a focus on numbers, but today’s announcement is an important reminder that these numbers are more than that—these are our children, loved ones, and friends,” said federal drug enforcement agent Bill Bodner.
The DOJ highlighted the charges against the defendants to send a message that trafficking drugs leading to fentanyl-related deaths violates both federal and state law.
“We are intent on bringing justice to victims and their families, while putting drug dealers on notice that even selling one pill can have harsh federal penalties,” Bodner said.
The cases were the result of investigations by a federal drug enforcement task force, which was created to address opioid-related deaths in the greater Los Angeles area, most of which are caused by the synthetic opioid fentanyl.
One of the seven defendants charged is William Edward Dick Jr., 51, of Costa Mesa, who was arrested April 21 for allegedly selling fentanyl-laced cocaine that killed three individuals on Balboa Island last year.
“Deception is the driving force behind the increase in fentanyl-caused deaths both locally and nationally,” Bodner stated when describing dealers deliberately lacing drugs with fentanyl.
Victims in the cases were of diverse backgrounds, including two minors and a community college student.
In most of the cases, officials said, the victims did not know they were ingesting fentanyl, which can be deadly in tiny amounts.
Some of the alleged drug traffickers knew or had reason to believe their products contained fentanyl, officials said, even though they claimed to be selling other narcotics.
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