A suspected online drug dealer has been indicted for distributing fentanyl-laced pills that caused the death of a La Jolla man, federal prosecutors said.
Trevon Lucas, 23 from Highland, California, is accused of selling prescription oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl to the La Jolla resident, who was not identified in court documents, on the night before his death on June 30.
Cell phone records said the two discussed the sale before parking lot surveillance footage showed them meeting up, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California.
The La Jolla man was found dead the next morning by his mother, according to court documents. His cause of death was determined to be a fentanyl overdose.
Federal prosecutors said the sale was part of a larger drug selling ring that involved Lucas and three San Bernardino-area residents in which some would post ads for drug sales on popular websites.
Several local and federal agencies worked to charge the four defendants, including the San Diego Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Lucas is charged with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and conspiracy and intent to distribute. He faces a minimum of 20 years to life in prison if convicted.
