United States Drug Enforcement Administration

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Edgar Giovany Baca-Anaya, 27, of Mesa, Arizona, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to 120 months in prison, followed by 96 months of supervised release. Baca-Anaya previously pleaded guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl and admitted that the distribution resulted in the death of another person.       

On June 23, 2019, in Mesa, Arizona, a man was found deceased in his apartment from an apparent drug overdose. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner confirmed the cause of death was fentanyl toxicity. Through their investigation, law enforcement agents learned that the victim contacted Baca-Anaya through Facebook Messenger and obtained fentanyl from him shortly before overdosing.

Fentanyl is a man-made opioid 50 times more potent than heroin. Just two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a potentially deadly dose. Counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, appearing nearly identical to other prescription pills, are often sold through social media or other illegitimate sources.

Legitimate pharmaceutical pills cannot be bought through social media. The only safe medications are ones prescribed directly to you by a trusted medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist. For additional information and resources, including a Caregivers Fact Sheet, visit DEA.gov/onepill.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Forsyth (N. Dist. Ga.), Brandon M. Brown, and William H. Bryan, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-22-01041-PHX-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-100_Baca-Anaya