A Chula Vista man received a 15-year prison sentence following an investigation into a fentanyl-related death, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
A March 30 news release reported Jonathan Mefford, 24, was sentenced to a total of 190 months in prison for selling fentanyl-laced pills, which reportedly caused the death of the 20-year-old man. Mefford was also found guilty of distributing significant quantities of methamphetamine from San Diego to Kansas.
“This 15-year sentence highlights the success of HSI’s collaborative efforts with our federal and local law enforcement partners in combating the opioid epidemic here and across the country,” Chad Plantz, special agent-in-charge for HSI San Diego said. “HSI is committed to holding those accountable who recklessly push this poison into our communities.”
Mefford previously admitted he knew the pills he sold the victim in 2018 contained fentanyl and that the overdose was caused by the pills sold by Mefford. According to the news release, Mefford continued selling counterfeit pills for months after they caused the victim's overdose, as well as an overdose by another victim who survived.
“The epidemic of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills continues to claim lives in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “To be clear: If you are a drug dealer selling pills, and those pills result in death, you will be held accountable for that death.”
