Tara K. McGrath, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California
Marcus Ray Chavez was sentenced to 262 months in prison by a federal court for providing fentanyl pills that led to the overdose death of a 15-year-old girl in 2022. Court documents reveal that Chavez supplied the girl with counterfeit "M30" pills containing fentanyl on multiple occasions between September and November 2022, in exchange for sex. He was aware that the victim was underage. The girl overdosed fatally on November 12, 2022.
The victim was a ninth-grader described by family and friends as an energetic person who aspired to own a hair salon. Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden stated, "Any loss of life is tragic," emphasizing the commitment to holding dealers accountable despite the irreparable loss.
DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Clark condemned Chavez's actions, highlighting how "fentanyl’s grip tightens the chains of exploitation." San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl expressed condolences and stressed the need to stop fentanyl-related deaths and hold dealers responsible.
Fentanyl remains a significant threat, with DEA testing last fall showing that half of tested pills contained potentially deadly doses. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine McGrath is prosecuting the case with former Assistant U.S. Attorney Owen Roth's assistance.
Chavez faces charges including sex trafficking of a minor and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, carrying penalties ranging from mandatory minimums to potential life imprisonment.
The investigation involved multiple agencies: Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Response Team, San Diego Police Department, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, La Mesa Police Department, National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, and California Department of Health Care Services.
