E. Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California
A Hollywood woman, Mirela Todorova, also known as "Mimi," has been found guilty of running a tech-savvy drug delivery business that resulted in three near-fatal fentanyl overdoses. The jury convicted Todorova on multiple counts, including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in serious bodily injury and distribution of fentanyl.
The court determined that Todorova must forfeit $498,555 in drug proceeds. Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally commented, "This defendant used her knowledge of technology to peddle the poison of fentanyl – despite knowing the pills she sold ran the risk of killing people."
Matthew Allen, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles Field Division, emphasized the importance of investigating every overdose incident: "This case started with a single overdose and led to the identification of the dealer responsible for multiple overdoses."
Evidence from a nine-day trial showed that between June 2020 and March 2021, Todorova orchestrated a drug trafficking operation using cellphones and narcotics, including counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. She employed drivers to deliver drugs across Los Angeles County and managed operations even while visiting Mexico.
Despite warnings about the potentially fatal nature of her oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl, Todorova continued sales until February 2021. In March 2021, law enforcement seized various narcotics from her possession.
Todorova made false statements to federal investigators in December 2021 regarding her involvement with drugs and associates. United States District Judge André Birotte Jr. has scheduled a sentencing hearing for September 12, where Todorova faces a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Other defendants involved in this case include Mucktarr Kather Sei, Christopher Y. Moreno Núñez, and Ashley Alicia Nicole Johnson, who have pleaded guilty to felony narcotics distribution charges.
The investigation was conducted by the Los Angeles Police Department and the DEA’s Overdose Justice Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick Castañeda, Jason C. Pang, Suria M. Bahadue, and James E. Dochterman are prosecuting this case.