Monterey County Man Accused Of Dealing Fentanyl-Laced Pills That Killed One, Injured Another

SAN FRANCISCO – Xavier Jimenez-Robledo appeared today in court on charges that he dealt counterfeit pills containing fentanyl that led to the overdose death of one individual in Monterey County, and the hospitalization of another individual, a minor, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

According to the complaint, Jimenez Robledo, age 19, of Seaside, California, is alleged to have sold counterfeit Percocet “M30” pills laced with fentanyl on two occasions between April 13 and May 5, 2020.  The complaint alleges that one of the buyers, a Carmel Valley man, overdosed and died after being hospitalized.   The complaint further alleges that the other buyer, a Pacific Grove minor, also overdosed but ultimately survived. 

“The drug overdose death alleged in this complaint is both a tragedy and a warning,” said U.S. Attorney David L. Anderson.  “With every drug overdose death, our community is delivered another tragic reminder that drug trafficking is a serious crime with real victims.  I especially urge the young people of Monterey County to stay away from street drugs made to look like medicine.  Taking even one counterfeit pill one time can be incredibly dangerous.”

“Counterfeit pills are often sold on the street with unknown amounts of fentanyl but disguised as the real deal,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux. “As this case demonstrates we will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to federally prosecute cases that involve distribution of a drug that causes serious bodily injury or death.”

The complaint affidavit against Jimenez-Robledo describes how the investigation began on April 16, 2020, when officers from the Pacific Grove Police Department (PGPD) responded to reports of an unresponsive juvenile.  Paramedics arrived and administered Naloxone, at which point the juvenile became responsive and was transported to a local Monterey hospital.  Meanwhile, in the minor’s bedroom officers found what appeared to be counterfeit Percocet M30 tablets.  According to the complaint, the tablets contained fentanyl.  The complaint also alleges that the minor had fentanyl in his blood at the time of his overdose. M30 tablets are round tablets that are light blue in color with an “M” imprinted on one side and “30” imprinted on the other. 

As further described in the complaint, the DEA received a separate report on May 5, 2020, of another individual who had been hospitalized after becoming unresponsive.  That individual, aged 20, died a few days later, on May 9, 2020.  The complaint alleges that this individual also had fentanyl in his blood.  As further described in the complaint, DEA agents recovered what appeared to be counterfeit M30 tablets containing fentanyl pills from this victim’s possessions.

According to the complaint, the defendant was identified after agents pursued a number of leads they obtained from, among other things, the victims’ Snapchat communications arranging to purchase M30 tablets. Investigators pursued these leads to a house in Seaside, California, where on May 21, 2020, agents observed Jimenez-Robledo give a small plastic baggie to an unidentified subject who then gave Jimenez-Robledo an unknown amount of US currency.  Between May 21, 2020 and May 24, 2020, the agents were also able to observe numerous vehicles stopping at the premises for short periods of time and meeting with individuals who had access to the premises. 

Jimenez Robledo was arrested in Marina, CA, on June 16, 2020, and made his initial appearance in federal court in San Francisco on June 17, 2020.  Jimenez Robledo is currently being held in custody pending further proceedings.  He is due to appear today for a detention hearing before the Honorable Laurel Beeler, U.S. Magistrate Judge.

A complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years, and a fine of $1,000,000, for each violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C).  However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. 

This case was investigated and prosecuted by member agencies of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, a focused multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force investigating and prosecuting the most significant drug trafficking organizations throughout the United States by leveraging the combined expertise of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.