A Wisconsin man, Anthony Ruben Whisenant, has entered a guilty plea to a felony drug charge in connection with a 2020 fentanyl transaction that led to the death of a U.S. Marine. Whisenant, 24, admitted guilt in United States District Court for using a cellphone to commit the felony drug offense.
United States District Judge Dolly M. Gee will sentence Whisenant on May 7. He faces up to four years in federal prison.
“Fentanyl continues to claim the lives of too many in our community,” stated Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally. “Our office remains committed to holding accountable those responsible for circulating fentanyl and other dangerous substances in our district and threatening the health and safety of our residents.”
Court documents reveal that Whisenant was an active-duty lance corporal at Camp Pendleton when he ordered pills advertised as oxycodone, which contained fentanyl, for another Marine identified as "L.M." The transaction was arranged through Gustavo Jaciel Solis via Snapchat. L.M., along with Whisenant and another Marine, Ryan Douglas White, traveled from Camp Pendleton to acquire the drugs from Solis.
The group later attended a party where L.M. consumed some pills and died shortly thereafter. Under Whisenant's direction, White disposed of the remaining pills before emergency services arrived.
Solis was charged alongside Whisenant and two civilian co-conspirators for distributing narcotics within civilian communities and among Marines. Solis was arrested in July 2020; authorities seized drugs and firearms from his home. He pleaded guilty in April 2022 to drug trafficking charges including distributing fentanyl resulting in death and awaits sentencing with a potential life sentence.
White admitted guilt in December 2024 for misprision of a felony due to his knowledge of the fatal incident and attempts to obstruct law enforcement investigations. His sentencing is set for June 6 with a possible three-year sentence.
A superseding indictment also named Jordan Nicholas McCormick and Jessica Sarah Perez as defendants involved in supplying drugs like LSD, ecstasy, cocaine, and fentanyl-laced oxycodone within the conspiracy network. McCormick has pleaded not guilty with trial scheduled for April 22. Perez pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to drug distribution; she received probation after paying a fine.
This case involved multiple agencies including Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Ventura County Sheriff’s Office under prosecution by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Castañeda.