A 36-year-old San Diego man has been charged with distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine that resulted in the overdose death of a 20-year-old San Diego resident, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.
James Jason Hendershaw, 36, of San Diego, was charged in an indictment unsealed this week with distributing the fentanyl and methamphetamine that resulted in the death of R.J., a 20-year-old San Diego resident.
The Oceanside Police Department and Oceanside Fire Department responded to a 911 call a few minutes after 6 a.m. on January 10, 2019, and found the victim unresponsive and lying on a sidewalk at the corner of Farel Street and Via Sonora in Oceanside. He was pronounced dead a few hours later.
Hendershaw allegedly distributed the fatal mix of fentanyl and methamphetamine the night before the victim’s death.
“Prosecuting drug dealers who supply deadly fentanyl and methamphetamine is not just about accountability; it’s about preventing death by interrupting the supply chain,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “By identifying and charging the distributors, we send a clear message to the dealers of these toxins: You will be held accountable for the lives your product destroys.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Sausedo and Adam Gordon.
Hendershaw is charged with one count of Distribution of Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Resulting in Death, a felony offense that carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison.
The Oceanside Police Department and the State of California Department of Health Care Services are investigating the case.
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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