United States Drug Enforcement Administration

LOS ANGELES – A Los Angeles County man was found guilty of distributing fentanyl to a Metro light-rail passenger, who collapsed on the floor of the Azusa Downtown Station after ingesting the synthetic opioid, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Los Angeles Field Division announced today.

On Monday, at the conclusion of a five-day trial, a jury found Shane Christopher Brown, 37, of Los Angeles County, guilty of one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.

According to evidence presented at trial, during the late evening of January 16, 2023, Brown distributed fentanyl while riding on the then-Gold Line train (now part of Los Angeles Metro A-Line system) in Azusa. Within 10 minutes of that distribution, the victim collapsed on the floor of the Azusa Downtown Station. The defendant was arrested in the city of Glendora on March, 2023, less than two months after the victim’s death.

Surveillance footage captured the defendant’s distribution, the victim’s use of that fentanyl, and the victim’s death.

Toxicology results revealed that fentanyl was the only illicit substance in the victim’s blood and his death was subsequently attributed to the effects of fentanyl, according to court documents.

Matthew Allen, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division, said, “This case underscores why curtailing the illegal distribution of fentanyl is a priority for the Drug Enforcement Administration. Everyone who deals fentanyl is dealing in death. DEA will continue to focus our efforts on all levels of illegal distribution of fentanyl, from the cartels importing it down to the street level distributors in our communities.”

“Fentanyl and other illicit drugs continue to devastate families and communities across L.A. County and the nation,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna. “Through close collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we were able to hold the individual who was responsible for the tragic death of a transit passenger accountable and serve justice to the victim’s family. This case highlights our unwavering commitment to protecting our communities from the deadly impact of drug-related crimes.”

United States District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett is presiding over the case. A sentencing hearing date will be announced at a later time. Brown faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as an analgesic (pain relief) and anesthetic. It is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin as an analgesic (www.dea.gov). Two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal depending on a person’s body size, tolerance and past usage. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), overdose remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44.

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

Assistant United States Attorneys Neil Thakor and Lisa Lindhorst of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California are prosecuting this case.