7 charged for selling fentanyl that led to fatal overdoses in O.C., including 3 at Balboa Island rental

Seven individuals described as drug sellers face federal drug costs for allegedly promoting fentanyl-laced narcotics that later precipitated deadly overdoses in Orange County, together with three individuals discovered lifeless in a Balboa Island dwelling rental final 12 months, officers introduced Friday.

Six of the defendants have been arrested, however one is presently being sought by authorities, in keeping with the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Central District of California.

Two of the individuals who died have been minors, one in every of whom was a neighborhood school pupil.

In a lot of the circumstances, the victims have been unaware that they have been ingesting fentanyl, officers mentioned. However a few of the defendants knew or had motive to consider that the medication contained the highly effective and lethal narcotic.

The defendants and the fees they face are listed under:

William Edward Dick Jr., 51, of Costa Mesa, was arrested Thursday after allegedly promoting fentanyl-laced cocaine that led to the deaths of three individuals in a Balboa Island home on Oct. 24, 2021.

A felony criticism alleges that two {couples} had gathered in Newport Seashore, and after having dinner collectively, one in every of them bought cocaine for the group. They contacted Dick, who agreed to promote them $200 price of cocaine, which he delivered to the rental the {couples} have been staying in.

After snorting what they thought was simply cocaine, all 4 individuals suffered overdoses, and three have been pronounced lifeless on the home the subsequent morning, officers mentioned.

The victims have been later recognized as Samantha Haiman, 45, of Riverside, and Andrew Adams and Desiree Temple, who have been each 43 years outdated and from Yorba Linda.

Dick is charged with one rely of distribution of fentanyl leading to demise. He’s anticipated to seem in courtroom Friday. The case remains to be being investigated by the DEA and the Newport Police Division.

Omar Alejandro Reynoso, 30, of Costa Mesa, was arrested Monday after being indicted by a grand jury on two counts of distribution of fentanyl leading to demise.

He allegedly supplied counterfeit Xanax tablets containing fentanyl to a person and a lady who later died in his lodge room in two separate incidents that occurred three weeks aside in November 2019, officers mentioned.

Reynoso pleaded not responsible this week and was ordered to face trial on June 14. The choose ordered him to be held with out bond. The case is being investigated by the DEA and the Costa Mesa Police Division.

Tyler David Wilkinson, 23, of Santa Ana, was named in a federal grand jury indictment alleging he offered counterfeit oxycodone tablets to a 17-year-old sufferer in Lake Forest who later died of a fentanyl overdose.

An investigation revealed the sufferer purchased the tablets final June after responding to an commercial posted on Snapchat by Wilkinson.

Six months earlier than that transaction, Wilkinson allegedly possessed distribution portions of a number of sorts of narcotics, together with almost 1,400 counterfeit oxycodone tablets that have been laced with fentanyl, officers mentioned. He continued to promote the tablets even after authorities executed a search warrant at his dwelling.

Wilkinson is being sought by authorities, because the Orange County Sheriff’s Division and the DEA proceed to analyze the case.

Anthony Bernard Fender, 31, of Tustin, was arrested Monday after a grand jury indictment alleged he offered fentanyl powder that led to the demise of a 40-year-old man, officers mentioned.

The indictment alleges Fender dedicated a federal offense after being convicted of a drug trafficking crime in 2013. If confirmed, Fender would face a compulsory life sentence.

Isai Hernandez Higinio, aka “Joker,” 23, of Santa Ana, was arrested April 1 after a grand jury indictment filed final month alleged he distributed fentanyl in counterfeit Percocet tablets to an 18-year-old Tustin resident who died after ingesting the drug, officers mentioned.

Hernandez was arraigned April 4. He pleaded not responsible and was ordered held with out bond. His trial is ready for Could 31, officers mentioned.

Matthew Benjamin Hurley, 24, of Virginia, was arrested Jan. 3 after allegedly distributing fentanyl at a motel in Costa Mesa that led to a deadly overdose.

Hurley stays in custody with out bond and is scheduled to face trial on Sept. 27.

Every defendant faces a compulsory minimal sentence of 20 years in federal jail and a possible sentence of life with out parole if convicted as charged.

 “Usually after we talk about the rampant rise of drug-caused deaths there’s a concentrate on numbers, however at present’s announcement is a crucial reminder that these numbers are greater than that – these are our youngsters, family members and buddies,” mentioned Invoice Bodner, particular agent in cost for the DEA in Los Angeles. “Fentanyl doesn’t discriminate and it’s affecting each neighborhood, ethnicity and era all through our nation.”