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Man Guilty in Fentanyl Overdose
LOS ANGELES – Edwin Oliva, a 30-year-old man from Montebello, pleaded guilty to federal narcotics charges, including distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, a crime that led to the fatal overdose of a woman.
Oliva was arrested in March 2019 and has been in federal custody ever since. According to his plea agreement, he provided the victim with a fatal dose of fentanyl on February 28, 2019, without disclosing its true nature. The victim ingested the substance and died as a result of the overdose.
Oliva failed to call 911 or seek medical attention for nearly six hours after the victim stopped breathing. Instead, he cleaned his apartment, disposing of the fentanyl and other evidence of drug trafficking. He attempted to hide the evidence in his significant other’s car before leaving the scene.
Montebello Police officers later executed a search warrant on the car and discovered a significant quantity of illicit substances, including 1.9 kilograms (4.2 pounds) of heroin, 21 grams of fentanyl, 1.4 kilograms (3.2 pounds) of marijuana, and 0.4 grams of methamphetamine. A loaded .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol, a blue flip phone used for drug transactions, and a pay/owe ledger were also seized.
Oliva admitted to directing his significant other to destroy evidence in the case while he was in custody. He also instructed her to tell law enforcement that the blue flip phone was a play phone for their children.
Oliva is scheduled to be sentenced on January 7, 2022, and faces a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The fentanyl distribution charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while the heroin possession charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Montebello Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Jhai and Kathrynne Seiden are prosecuting the matter.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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