Danny Nunez, a San Diego resident, has been sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for supplying fentanyl that led to the fatal overdose of a 25-year-old woman from Escondido. The incident occurred in September 2024 when Nunez sold fentanyl to the victim, identified as L.P., who was found deceased by her parents the following day.
In early October 2024, detectives from the Escondido Police Department posed as L.P. and contacted Nunez to purchase more fentanyl. Nunez agreed and was subsequently arrested at his residence while carrying two baggies containing a total of 8.9 grams of fentanyl.
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon commented on the case stating, “The defendant stole a young life and shattered a family by peddling deadly fentanyl.” He emphasized that the sentence serves as a warning to those involved in drug trafficking.
Shawn Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Diego, highlighted the role of law enforcement partnerships in tackling such cases: “This investigation is an example of the strong partnerships between our state and local law enforcement partners that make up the San Diego Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team (FAST).”
David King, executive director of San Diego and Imperial Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), remarked on the importance of prioritizing public safety over profits from drug sales: “San Diego County is a safer place after this investigation and successful prosecution.”
Escondido Police Lt. Ryan Hicks noted their commitment to addressing illicit fentanyl distribution with support from various agencies: “The Escondido Police Department works aggressively to identify and hold accountable anyone who chooses to participate in the poisoning of our community through illicit fentanyl distribution.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Van Demark is prosecuting this case. The investigation was led by Special Agents and Task Force Officers with FAST, a multiagency task force established in August 2022 focusing on disrupting criminal organizations involved in smuggling and distributing fentanyl within San Diego County.
The HIDTA program supports law enforcement efforts in critical drug-trafficking regions across the United States, providing assistance through grants administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
