By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–A San Diego man appeared in federal court to face charges that he distributed the fentanyl that resulted in the deaths of two victims in North Park in 2022. During the same incident, the defendant and another person also overdosed but survived.
Scott Anthony Sargent, 63, is also charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. At the hearing, he was detained without bond.
San Diego Police officers along with investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Response Team responded to a 911 call just before 6 a.m. on November 10, 2022. When they arrived, four individuals were found lying on the floor of a bedroom. Two of the individuals, identified in court records by the initials Z.W. and M.L., were pronounced dead at the scene, while Sargent and another individual were treated with Narcan and transported to nearby hospitals where they recovered.
Sargent allegedly brought and then distributed the fatal mix of fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl (a common fentanyl analogue) to a residence in North Park. Investigators linked Sargent to the overdoses through the fentanyl/para-fluorofentanyl mixture found at the overdose location. The mixture was also found inside Sargent’s backpack and duffel bag recovered from the scene. A subsequent search by investigators of Sargent’s storage unit also turned up additional baggies containing the same combination of fentanyl/para-fluorofentanyl.
“Fentanyl kills indiscriminately,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Yet as was accomplished in this case investigators will leave no stone unturned in the effort to identify and charge distributors of this poison.”
“Mr. Sargent’s alleged actions cost two people their lives,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Chrysanthis. “The San Diego DEA and its partners are dedicated to bringing to justice those that sell, traffic, or provide fentanyl in our community.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Gordon and Sarah Goldwasser is prosecuting the case.
Special Agents and Task Force Officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Response Team (formerly known as Team 10) led the investigation.
