Suspected fentanyl dealer indicted in connection with fatal overdose in Tempe parking lot
A suspected drug dealer was indicted on multiple felony charges in connection with a fatal fentanyl overdose in Tempe.
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PHOENIX – A suspected drug dealer has been indicted on multiple felony charges in connection with a fatal fentanyl overdose in Tempe earlier this year, authorities announced Wednesday.
A Maricopa County grand jury officially charged 28-year-old Freddie Avila last week with one count each of manslaughter, sale of lethal fentanyl and sale or transportation of narcotic drugs, all class 2 felonies.
Avila allegedly sold the pills that caused the death of Chris Joseph, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
In March, employees of a car wash at Tempe Marketplace found Joseph dead of a fentanyl overdose in his parked vehicle, which had over 500 fentanyl pills in the cupholder.
Investigators determined that Avila and Joseph arranged a drug deal at the car wash parking lot over text messages. The defendant allegedly admitted to selling the pills when interviewed by detectives before his arrest last month, prosecutors said.
Alleged dealer charged under recent fentanyl overdose law
Avila, who is being held on a $250,000 bond, is the second Phoenix-area defendant to be charged under a 2024 state law that makes it a class 2 felony to knowingly sell fentanyl that causes another person’s death, MCAO said.
In April, 35-year-old Cruzita Leon was indicted on suspicion of selling the fentanyl that killed 49-year-old Ted Gordon in Mesa shortly after the law went into effect in November.
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Comments
3 Comments
As much as we want to blame Avila for this death, at the end of the day, Chris Joseph willingly contributed to his own demise in his quest to get high.
Let's feed Avila the evidence and move on.
Well Mr. Avila should be given the same amount of poison that his victim died from, and if he survives, he walks away free. If he doesn’t, no big loss and it saves us taxpayers.
Bad career choice Freddie…