LOCAL NEWS: Bay area prosecutors now want to charge Fentanyl dealers with murder, an ambitious effort to hold culprits behind rising deaths accountable.
In the wake of California’s first murder conviction related to fentanyl sales, prosecutors in the Bay Area are gearing up to target more drug dealers.
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe announced, “For the first time in our county, we charged an individual named Phillip Ng with murder for providing fentanyl to a victim, which ultimately led to her death without her knowledge of the substance.”
This significant case follows a previous conviction in Placer County, where a dealer was found guilty of murder in connection with the overdose of a 15-year-old girl.
Now, more counties are beginning to adopt similar approaches. Wagstaffe estimates that around 100 such charges have been filed statewide, with many resolved outside of court.
Only two cases have gone to trial: the Placer County case and another in Riverside County, which also resulted in a guilty verdict.
Wagstaffe emphasized the importance of collaboration among different jurisdictions, stating, “We’ve already connected with their prosecutors to discuss their successful strategies and how we can effectively present these cases to a jury to ensure justice is served.”
He noted the challenge of fentanyl dealing in his county, explaining, “There is very little fentanyl dealing here; dealers typically travel to San Francisco, particularly to areas like the Tenderloin, where it is easily accessible.
They then bring it back home, often using BART, leading to overdoses in our area.”
In a discussion with Tara Campbell, Wagstaffe addressed the complexities of jurisdiction in these cases.
“If the entire sale occurred in San Francisco, that case falls under the jurisdiction of the San Francisco District Attorney’s office,” he explained.
Campbell inquired about potential collaboration with the San Francisco DA’s office.
Wagstaffe affirmed, “Today, we collaborate almost all the time.
While it may have been more challenging in the past, Ms. Jenkins and I have developed a strong working relationship.
We aim to identify the best jurisdiction to prosecute these cases effectively.”
Brooke Jenkins, the San Francisco District Attorney, added, “San Francisco has become a central drug market for individuals from across the Bay Area.
If we encounter an overdose death in another county linked to a seller based in San Francisco, I am fully prepared to work with that DA’s office.
Our team has been training in Southern California and is currently developing the ‘San Francisco model’ for addressing these issues, as each jurisdiction has unique drug market dynamics.”
The case against Phillip Ng is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in December, marking a significant step in the ongoing battle against the fentanyl crisis in the region.
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