Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

News

Fentanyl Dealers Face Rising Homicide Charges as Overdose Deaths Increase

Credits: Dallas Morning News

As the fentanyl crisis continues to escalate, a new task force in Los Angeles is taking an aggressive approach to hold drug dealers accountable by pursuing murder charges in cases where the synthetic opioid leads to fatalities.

Fentanyl, known for its potency, affordability, and easy accessibility, has contributed to a surge in overdose deaths across the United States.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has formed a task force led by Lieutenant Bobby Dean, specifically focused on investigating fentanyl-related deaths in the county.

The primary objective is to bring charges against dealers responsible for distributing the lethal substance. Lieutenant Dean emphasizes that fentanyl is “a hundred times more powerful than morphine” and poses an immediate threat, capable of causing death instantly.

Fentanyl Overdose (Credits: King 5 News)

In Los Angeles County alone, the sheriff’s department handles hundreds of fentanyl-related death investigations annually. Sheriff Robert Luna underscores the task force’s intention to treat these cases as homicides, comparing the act of selling fentanyl to other deadly offenses like stabbings or shootings.

This strategy mirrors a growing trend across the country, where law enforcement agencies are exploring ways to hold drug dealers criminally responsible for overdose deaths.

In 2023, the Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies seized over 3 million fentanyl pills, marking an increase of 300,000 pills from the previous year.

In an undercover operation, deputies purchased a baggie containing approximately 10 pills designed to look like prescription pain medication. This small purchase, costing $80, was estimated to contain enough fentanyl to cause the deaths of up to 20 people.

One of the cases under investigation by the task force involves the death of Jax Markley, an 18-year-old who succumbed to fentanyl poisoning in 2022. Jax’s mother, Daisy Markley, discovered her son’s lifeless body in his room, prompting an emotional response from the family.

Matt Markley, Jax’s father, expressed a desire to hold those responsible accountable for providing the lethal drugs, emphasizing the awareness of the deadly nature of fentanyl.

Detectives from the task force have made arrests in connection with Jax Markley’s death, with the accused individual awaiting trial in federal court.

This proactive approach by the Los Angeles task force highlights the urgency in addressing the fentanyl crisis and attempting to curb the rising number of overdose deaths associated with the potent opioid.

Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

We’re dedicated to providing you the most authenticated news. We’re working to turn our passion for the political industry into a booming online news portal.

You May Also Like

News

Spoilers! The demon Akaza from Kimetsu no Yaiba dies in the eleventh arc of the manga and the one responsible for his death is...

News

In the fiscal year 2022-23, Pakistan’s National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) granted a total of 1,596 net-metering licenses nationwide, collectively amounting to 221.05...

Entertainment

Actress Emma D’Arcy is from the British rebellion. She has only appeared in a small number of movies and TV shows. It might be...

Entertainment

Jennifer Coolidge Is Pregnant: Jennifer Coolidge Audrey Coolidge is a comedian and actress from the United States. Many of her followers are wondering if...