A Lake Elsinore man, Sergio Maya, 33, was given a 20-year stint in federal prison today for his role in a fentanyl overdose that killed a 33-year-old man. The United States District Judge Mark C. Scarsi sentenced Maya after he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced.
According to court records, in the early hours of May 26, 2022, Maya met with the victim, identified only as “C.A.”, and sold the victim the fatal dose of fentanyl near their Lake Elsinore apartment. Later that day, C.A. ingested the drug and subsequently overdosed. Judge Scarsi also ordered Maya to pay $19,848 in restitution. In a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, United States Attorney Martin Estrada commented on the severity of the sentence, saying, "The recklessness of this defendant resulted in the victim’s untimely death and his loved ones in mourning. Today’s 20-year prison sentence sends a message to drug dealers who kill their customers that my Office will seek and obtain the stiffest penalties under the law.”
The case against Maya was the result of a collaborative effort by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. “We are deeply appreciative of our ongoing partnership with the U.S. Attorney's Office in combating perpetrators who distribute deadly fentanyl within our community,” said Riverside County District Attorney Michael A. Hestrin, in a piece issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He extended gratitude to his staff and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their investigative and prosecutorial efforts.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized the commitment of law enforcement agencies to tackle the fentanyl crisis. DEA Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles Field Division, Matthew Allen, spoke of the dedication to public safety, noting, "The sentencing of this defendant reinforces the steadfast commitment of the DEA and our law enforcement partners to holding individuals accountable for the distribution of illegal drugs poisoning our nation." The investigation and prosecution demonstrate an ongoing fight against a backdrop of rising fentanyl-related deaths across the nation.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Stephen T. Merrill of the Riverside Branch Office was the lead prosecutor on the Maya case. The Public Information Officer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ciaran McEvoy, provided contact information for further inquiries regarding the incident and its hefty judicial outcome.
