Fresno County District Attorney Smittcamp announces murder charge filed against alleged drug dealer who sold fentanyl-laced drugs to victim
By ONME Newswire
In this News Too Real special feature on the fentanyl crisis in California, show host, Julia Dudley Najieb, reviews how law enforcement is stepping up to tackle the crisis, full force. Attorney General Rob Bonta has seized almost 1,000 pounds of fentanyl powder since April 2021.
Dudley Najieb reviews the horrific stats of the formidable increase of fentanyl-related deaths throughout California, and the many seizures at the boarder of Mexico and California and Texas and Mexico.
Next Dudley Najieb reviews the Fresno county District Attorney's Office press conference, lead by DA Lisa Smittcamp; Fresno County is pressing charges for its first fentanyl-related murder case against two defendants facing a combined 33 years in prison.
When Attorney General Rob Bonta announced in mid-October about the seizure of millions of fentanyl pills, almost one thousand pounds of fentanyl powder since April 2021, 2021 marked an over 23 % increase in deaths related to fentanyl poisoning in the United States, (from 57,834 to 71,238 deaths nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)
“Throughout the nation, we continue to address the impacts of the opioid crisis, and have in recent years seen a marked increase in fentanyl use and associated deaths,” said Attorney General Bonta. “This crisis is a multifaceted public health and safety issue — and addressing this crisis requires a thoughtful and strategic approach. Whether through the seizure of illicit fentanyl through our ongoing enforcement efforts or by bringing California billions of dollars through our lawsuits and investigative efforts to hold the opioid industry accountable, the California Department of Justice is all-in when it comes to protecting California families from the dangers of fentanyl. I want to thank our teams and our law enforcement partners across the state for their work in taking fentanyl off our streets and out of Californian communities. There are countless lives being saved as a result of their important and difficult work.”
Fentanyl is a powerful and potentially addictive synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin. A small amount of fentanyl, just two milligrams, can result in overdose and potentially death. Fentanyl can be found in different forms, including pills, powder, and liquid, and is produced legally through the legal pharmaceutical market and illegally through the illicit drug market. Illicit fentanyl has been found in many drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine, counterfeit pills, and cocaine. Fentanyl mixed with any drug increases the likelihood of a fatal overdose. Illicit fentanyl has also reportedly been produced in rainbow colors, potentially aimed at increasing consumption among users, especially young adults.
In California in 2020, 5,502 people died due to opioid overdose, and 3,946 died due to fentanyl overdose. (CDC), the nation has experienced the overdose epidemic in three distinct but interconnected waves: an increase in deaths from prescription opioid overdoses since the 1990s, an increase in heroin deaths starting in 2010, and a more recent surge in deaths from other illicit opioids, such as fentanyl. Attorney General Bonta is addressing this challenge through an all-in, multifaceted approach using ongoing enforcement, litigation, and effective public policy strategies for prevention.
Enforcement program to tackle fentanyl crisis
Through the Fentanyl Enforcement Program, DOJ works with local and federal law enforcement partners throughout the state. In 2022-2023 budget year, DOJ secured $7.9 million for the creation of the program within DOJ under coordination of the Bureau of Investigation to expand this important work, with an allocation of $6.7 million in ongoing funding. This funding is in addition to DOJ's ongoing efforts through its Bureau of Forensic Services, which, among other things, supports law enforcement across the state by directly screening for and quantifying the amount of fentanyl present in drug offense-related samples submitted to DOJ.
Since April 2021, DOJ allied task forces throughout the state have aggressively and strategically worked to detect, deter, disrupt, and dismantle fentanyl operations and criminal enterprises, supply chain networks, and other associated criminal syndicates to prevent fentanyl from reaching California neighborhoods and communities and help those directly impacted by this public health crisis. This work has touched many communities including:
Southern California through the Los Angeles IMPACT Task Force with nearly 2.3 million fentanyl pills and 762 pounds of powder seized, and 121 suspects arrested.
Inland Empire, through the Inland Crackdown Allied Task Force with 790,000 pills and over 36 pounds of fentanyl powder seized and 25 suspects arrested.
Northern California, through the Placer County Special Investigation Team with four pounds of fentanyl powder seized, and 34 suspects arrested, including an investigation leading to the conviction of Virgil Bordner for his role in the death of Placer County teen who overdosed on fentanyl in 2020.
Central Valley, through the Merced Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team, with 440,000 pills and 15 pounds of fentanyl powder seized and 18 suspects arrested, as well as the High Impact Investigation Team, with 488,000 pills and 47 pounds of fentanyl powder seized and 17 suspects arrested.
Accountability
The opioid crisis stems from an increase in prescription opioids and illegal practices by opioid manufacturers and sellers who misled healthcare providers and patients about the addictive nature of opioids, contributed to an over-supply of opioids in the market, and helped create the crisis the country faces today. Through ongoing litigation and investigative efforts, DOJ seeks to hold opioid manufacturers and distributors who are alleged to have fueled the crisis to account, and to bring funding and relief to affected communities nationwide, including:
$26 billion through a settlement with Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen – the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors – and Johnson & Johnson, a company that manufactured and marketed opioids.
$6 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family over their role in the opioid epidemic.
Nearly $6 billion settlement pending with opioid manufacturers Allergan and Teva to participating states and local governments, resolving allegations the companies deceptively marketed opioids and failed to maintain controls to prevent diversion.
$573 million settlement with McKinsey & Company resolving California’s investigation into the company’s role in advising opioid companies, helping those companies promote their drugs, and profiting from the opioid epidemic.
Prevention and Public Policy Strategies
Through nationwide settlements, Attorney General Bonta and other state attorneys general have sought strong monetary relief and injunctive terms to help address and mitigate the impacts of the opioid crisis. The terms of the settlements, including requirements for funding received by states, outline high-impact abatement activities and strategies such as:
Interrupting and preventing illicit opioid trafficking through strategic, impactful enforcement.
Increasing support for substance-use disorder facilities and improved infrastructure for treatment.
Addressing the needs of communities of color and vulnerable populations, including those who are unhoused.
Strengthening availability of Naloxone (also known as NARCAN) or other FDA-Approved overdose reversal drugs.
Doubling down on interventions for drug addiction in vulnerable youth and supporting those in the juvenile justice system with treatment options.
Improving training and resources for law enforcement and first responders regarding appropriate practices and precautions when dealing with fentanyl or other drugs, including with regard to addressing the needs of criminal justice involved persons with opioid-use disorder and mental health issues.
Implementing best practices for outreach, diversion, and deflection.
Supporting job creation programs to help connect those recovering from substance use disorders with gainful employment and pathways to financial stability.
Improving data-sharing and management systems to detect suspicious activity, including with regard to the prescription of controlled substances.
"Fentanyl does not discriminate," Santa Ana federal authorities
SANTA ANA, CALIF.-- In April of this year, federal authorities in Santa Ana, Calif. charged seven defendants with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. The 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 face, each defendant would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a potential sentence of life without parole-- six of the seven defendants' age range from 23 to 31. One defendant was age 51.
“The opioid crisis has resulted in the widespread distribution of fentanyl and a horrific trail of misery resulting from the untimely death of tens of thousands of Americans each year,” said United States Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison. “These cases highlight two important lessons, with the first being that many street drugs are contaminated with an extremely powerful opioid that often leads to death. The second is that narcotics dealers face severe consequences in federal court when the distribution of their products results in a fatal overdose.”
“Fentanyl does not discriminate and it’s affecting every community, ethnicity and generation throughout our country. As we tackle the fentanyl crisis locally, 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.”
The victims in these cases are of diverse backgrounds, with two of the deceased victims being minors and one a community college student. In most of the cases, 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, even though they claimed to be selling other narcotics.
Deadly fentanyl is being seized by border officials
SAN DIEGO – More deadly fentanyl is being seized by border officials in San Diego and Imperial counties than at any of the nation’s 300-plus ports of entry, making this federal district an epicenter for fentanyl trafficking into the United States.
In the first nine months of FY 2022 (October through June), U.S. Customs and Border Protection law enforcement agencies in San Diego and Imperial counties (CBP Field Operations and Border Patrol) seized 5,091 pounds of fentanyl – which amounts to about 60 percent of the 8,425 pounds of fentanyl seized around the entire country.
“A decade ago, we didn’t even know about fentanyl, and now it’s a national crisis,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “The amount of fentanyl we are seizing at the border is staggering. The number of fentanyl seizures and fentanyl-related deaths in our district are unprecedented.”
DA Smittcamp takes stance against local fentanyl drug dealers
FRESNO,CA -- District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp announced last week that her office has filed charges against Cassidy Marie Gonzalez (21, of Fresno) and Alejandro Valverde-Nuno (25, of Fresno) for their alleged involvement in the fentanyl poisoning of 41-year-old Jade Alexandra Dreith of Fresno that resulted in her death.
It is alleged that on January 15, 2022, Gonzalez sold the fentanyl-laced pills that killed Jade Dreith. Dreith was found deceased on January 17, 2022, by the Fresno Police Department after a welfare check was requested by the family.
The Felony Complaint filed in the Superior Court alleges that Cassidy Gonzalez committed:
One (1) Count of MURDER [Penal Code §187(a)]
One (1) Count of POSSESSION FOR SALE OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [Health & Safety Code §11351]
Two (2) Counts of SALE OR OFFER TO SELL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [Health & Safety Code §11352]
The Felony Complaint filed in the Superior Court alleges that Alejandro Valverde-Nuno committed:
• One (1) Count of ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT [Penal Code §32]
• One (1) Count of POSSESSION FOR SALE OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
[Health & Safety Code §11351]
• Two (2) Counts of SALE OR OFFER TO SELL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [Health &
Safety Code §11352]
If convicted of all charges and allegations, Cassidy Gonzalez faces a sentence of up to 25 years to life in state prison. Alejandro Valverde-Nuno faces a sentence of 8 years in state prison.
The defendants were arrested on October 13th, 2022, and thereafter booked into the Fresno County Jail. The arraignment was scheduled for today, October 18th , 2022, however, it was continued until November 1 st , 2022, at 8:30 AM in Department 31 of the Fresno County Superior Court.
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