United States Drug Enforcement Administration

LOS ANGELES – A Palmdale man was sentenced today to 192 months in federal prison for knowingly possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, the use of which resulted in the fatal overdose of two victims, the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division announced.

Christopher Morales, 24, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani, who also ordered three years of supervised release.

Morales pleaded guilty in June 2025 to two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He has been in federal custody since September 2024.

Morales admitted that, on at least four occasions, from March 2024, to September 2024, he knowingly and intentionally distributed fentanyl or possessed it with intent to distribute, causing the deaths of two individuals.

According to court documents, on March 8, 2024, Morales distributed fentanyl to a victim, who later died as a result. The victim had requested to buy “blues,” a slang term for Oxycodone pills. Morales sold the pills without warning the victim that the pills contained fentanyl. Three days later, on March 11, 2024, the victim ingested the pills received from Morales and died from an overdose. The victim was 24 years old.

On August 26, 2024, Morales distributed fentanyl to a second victim.  According to court documents, that victim believed he was purchasing Oxycodone pills. Morales did not warn the second victim that the pills contained fentanyl. The next day, the victim ingested the pills and died from fentanyl poisoning. The second victim was 23 years old.

On two separate occasions, April 3, 2024, and September 9, 2024, law enforcement found Morales to be in possession of fentanyl. In total, Morales distributed or possessed with intent to distribute a total of approximately 32.6 grams of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl on the four occasions.

Morales admitted in his plea agreement that he acted with willful blindness or conscious avoidance of knowledge that the pills he sold to his victims were not legitimately manufactured drugs.

David Olesky, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division, said, “Two families affected in this case will forever carry the weight of their loss. Although today’s sentencing does not undo these tragedies, we hope it offers some sense of peace and closure for loved ones. In addition, today’s sentencing demonstrates our resolve in holding accountable those who poison our communities and harm our American families. DEA is grateful for the outstanding partnership with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office in order to bring this investigation to this conclusion.”

“The devastating impact of the fentanyl epidemic continues to touch every corner of our county, leaving families and communities with unimaginable loss,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. “The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department remains deeply committed to working alongside our federal partners, including the DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, to hold accountable those who distribute these lethal drugs. While no legal outcome can replace the lives lost, our thoughts remain with the families grieving loved ones taken by individuals who seek to profit on dangerous, counterfeit pills.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter.

Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas G. Purcell of the Major Crimes Section prosecuted this case.

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