Printer-friendly version
East County News Service
October 17, 2019 (San Diego) – A drug dealer who advertised oxycodone narcotic pills online knowing they contained the far more potent drug fentanyl was sentenced in federal court this week to serve 15 years in prison. The counterfeit pills caused the overdose death of a La Jolla resident.
Trevon Antone Lucas, 23 of Highland, California, pleaded guilty in June to distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. In his plea, he admitted that he posted online ads for the illegal sale of prescription pills.
According to prosecutors, the investigation revealed that Lucas was twice warned about the danger of the pills he was selling. In late 2017, Lucas was warned that the pills he was selling were counterfeit and contained fentanyl that was much stronger than oxycodone pills. Then, just two months prior to the victim’s death in mid-2018, Lucas was explicitly warned that counterfeit pills containing fentanyl had caused the overdose of a San Diego resident.
“Trevon Lucas knew the pills he was selling were deadly, but he sold them anyway, showing a remarkable disregard for the safety and well-being of his fellow human beings,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer in San Diego. “His greed transcended his humanity, and for that he will serve a very long sentence.” Brewer praised prosecutor Michael Deshong and federal, state and local investigators who worked hard to protect the community from the scourge of opioids and achieve justice for the victim and his family.
“Our hearts go out to the victim’s family,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Karen Flowers. “The potential of their loved one will never be realized; but their hopes, dreams, love and laughter will forever be remembered. Earthly justice is a small measure of what awaits those who prey on the weak out of greed.” Flowers further stated, “We at DEA are proud to be part of bringing justice to families scarred by the scourge of drug trafficking. We are relentless and we will not shy from putting murderers out of business. No matter how hard it is or how long it takes, DEA will always be in pursuit until we can close the case and look at the victim’s loved ones and say, justice is done.”
According to Lucas’ plea agreement, on the evening of June 29, 2018, Lucas met the victim and sold him nine “blues,” a slang term for prescription oxycodone pills, for $240. The “blues” purchased from Lucas were counterfeit and contained deadly fentanyl—the same pills that Lucas had previously been warned about selling. The victim’s mother found him dead in his room the following morning, after he consumed the pills.
Three other individuals, Cenclair Marie Fields, Kevin Vandale Chandler and Donovan Adontas Carter were charged in the same indictment for conspiring with Lucas to distribute prescription hydrocodone pills. All three have since pleaded guilty and been sentenced.
This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, and multiple law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute the distribution of dangerous illegal drugs that result in overdose deaths.
Many opioid addicts start their addiction with legitimate prescription drugs. But when doctors stop renewing prescriptions, some patients turn to the streets or the Internet to illegally purchase what many believe are the same medications that they previously obtained via prescriptions.
Drug cartels, looking to capitalize on the opioid epidemic, are making counterfeit prescription pills using deadly fentanyl. More than 399,000 people died from opioid overdoses, including prescription and illicit opioids, from 1999–2017.
In July 2018, Narcotics Task Force Team 10 was created to address drug overdose deaths in San Diego County. Team 10’s first investigation was the fentanyl drug overdose of this La Jolla man on June 30, 2018. The victim was 37 years old and left behind his mother and brother. He had recently completed his bachelor’s degree in radiological sciences and was preparing to fly to the East Coast for a specialized program in dosimetry at the time he passed away.
Recent comments