Fresno County Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl
FRESNO, Calif. — Lakota Tehya Wakley, 21, of Clovis, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris announced.
According to court documents, between Nov. 18, 2024, and Dec. 9, 2024, Wakley conspired with Austin Lloyd Kerns, 53, of Fresno, and others to distribute fentanyl. The investigation began after a fentanyl‑overdose death in Fresno. On Nov. 23, 2024, Wakley connected the overdose victim with Kerns to buy fentanyl pills. Over the next 48 hours, the victim bought fentanyl pills multiple times from Kerns and died soon after of a fentanyl overdose. Wakley received fees for connecting the victim with Kerns.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Fentanyl Overdose Resolution Team (FORT), a multi-agency team composed of Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Fresno and Clovis Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Calvin Lee and Arin C. Heinz are prosecuting the case.
Charges are pending against Kerns. He is scheduled for a status conference on March 26, 2025, before Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe. The charges are only allegations; Kerns is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Wakley is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff on June 23, 2025. Wakley faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.), a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.
