A Nigerian man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for selling a drug that killed a teen in the United States.

A Nigerian man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for selling a drug that killed a teen in the United States.

A Nigerian man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for selling a drug that killed a teen in the United States.

Advertisements

NewsReport gathered that the federal court in the United States sentenced Olatunde James Temitope Akintunde, a Nigerian, to 15 years in prison for selling fentanyl-laced pills that killed SJG, a 19-year-old.

According to a statement released by the US Attorney’s Office on Wednesday, Akintunde, who lives in El Cajon, California, messaged SJG on social media on February 28, 2019, asking him to buy opioid medicines and oxycodone pills, which he did, used, and caused his death.

On March 1, 2019, SJG was discovered dead in his home in Santee, California.

The statement read, “El Cajon resident Olatunde James Temitope Akintunde was sentenced in federal court today to 15 years in prison for selling fentanyl-laced pills that caused the death of a 19-year-old Santee man, identified in court records as S.J.G., in March of 2019.

“Akintonde previously admitted that he sent messages to S.J.G. through social media on February 28, 2019, to coordinate a sale of what the victim believed to be oxycodone pills. Later that evening, Akintonde delivered two counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl to S.J.G.

“After the meeting, Akintunde sent additional messages to S.J.G. through social media warning that he should only take one of the pills because they were ‘strong.’ Akintunde further admitted that the pills he gave to S.J.G. caused his death. According to other filings in the case, S.J.G. died in his home sometime in the evening of February 28, 2019, or the early morning hours of March 1, 2019.

“Special Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and a Task Force Officer from the San Diego Sheriff’s Department led the investigation into S.J.G.’s death and quickly identified Akintunde as the source of the fatal pills. According to the sentencing memorandum, Akintunde offered various prescription pills for sale through different social media platforms.”

Aside from selling the drug and issuing several prescriptions that got SJG killed, the convict was also accused of posting pictures of himself wielding dangerous weapons.

“Akintonde also posted photographs of himself brandishing firearms and posted songs promoting the use and distribution of pharmaceutical pills,” the statement said.

“There is an epidemic of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills in our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman.

“To be clear: If you are a drug dealer selling pills, and those pills result in death, you will be held accountable for that death. It is no defense to say you didn’t know the pills contained fentanyl.”

“Grossman praised the prosecution team as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Narcotics Task Force Team 10 and officials from the San Diego Sheriff’s Department and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for their excellent work on this case.

“As the number of drug overdose deaths continues to rise in San Diego County, the DEA San Diego Field Division has made investigating overdose deaths a priority. We are committed to bringing drug dealers like Olatunde James Temitope Akintonde, who poisons our communities, to justice,” DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Shelly S. Howe was quoted as saying in the statement.

“This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration to investigate and prosecute the distribution of dangerous illegal drugs—fentanyl in particular—that result in overdose deaths.

The Drug Enforcement Administration created Narcotics Task Force Team 10 as a response to the increase in overdose deaths in San Diego County. Agents from Team 10 contributed to the investigation into S.J.G.’s death,” the statement added.