Marcus Ray Chavez has been sentenced to 262 months in federal prison for supplying fentanyl pills that led to the death of a 15-year-old girl in 2022. The court documents reveal that Chavez provided the victim with counterfeit "M30" pills containing fentanyl on multiple occasions between September and November 2022, exchanging them for sex despite knowing she was underage. The victim died from an overdose on November 12, 2022.
The government’s sentencing memo highlights that the victim was a ninth-grader described by family and friends as energetic and aspiring to own a hair salon. Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden stated, “Any loss of life is tragic,” emphasizing the commitment to holding dealers accountable.
DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Clark remarked, “Mr. Chavez traded fake fentanyl pills for sex with a vulnerable child,” acknowledging the exploitation involved and noting that Chavez now faces over two decades to reflect on his actions.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl expressed condolences, stating, “We must stop the senseless loss of life due to fentanyl overdoses.” Fentanyl remains a significant threat, with DEA testing showing half of tested pills contain potentially lethal doses.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine McGrath is prosecuting this case with substantial assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Owen Roth.
Chavez faced charges including Sex Trafficking of a Minor and Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death, carrying mandatory minimum sentences ranging from ten years to life imprisonment and fines up to $1 million.
The investigation involved multiple agencies: Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Response Team, San Diego Police Department, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, La Mesa Police Department, National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, and California Department of Health Care Services.