California

Counterfeit pills and intravenous and injectable medications have injured and even killed California patients. Download our June 2021 PDF Download our state information sheet about counterfeit drug incidents in California and consult the updates below. State incident summaries November – December 2022 (pdf) Counterfeit News in CaliforniaGrass Valley Police make fentanyl arrest with help from…

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Indictment Announced Of California Woman Who Sold Fentanyl Pills Online For Almost Two Years

A California woman has been indicted for shipping fake fentanyl pills and a misbranded drug into Illinois. In total, prosecutors alleged that Melissa Scanlan shipped over 50,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills to customers all over the United States. After initially being arrested on state charges in August, Scanlan allegedly went back to Mexico to arrange for more fake fentanyl pills to be delivered to her home. She was arrested for the second time in September in relation to the Illinois indictment…

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An Epidemic Began with 14 Deaths in Sacramento

In a brutal month spanning March 23 to April 23, 2016, fourteen people in the Sacramento area died of suspected drug overdoses, and 38 others were poisoned. At the beginning authorities had no idea why there was a sudden spike in overdose deaths and suspected “contaminated drugs.” They would not know until the month was out and the recovered pills had been analyzed that these deaths were caused by counterfeit pills made with deadly fentanyl. One of those who was lost was a 28-year-old father of three, Jerome Butler.

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Petaluma Mother Headed for Prison in the Fentanyl Pill Death of her Son

A Petaluma woman sits in jail awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to felony child-endangerment in the April death of her 16-year-old son. The teenager died as the result of ingesting a counterfeit Xanax pill containing fentanyl. His mother is facing up to 12 years in prison when sentenced. Her co-defendant in the case has been arraigned but has yet to face trial.

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Two Major Fentanyl Pills Seizures at U.S. – Mexico Border Crossing In One Week

Over the course of one week, the San Ysidro Port of Entry near San Diego, California saw a new record-breaking fentanyl pills seizure of almost 11,500 pills be beaten by an even newer record of over 20,000. Customs and Border Protection arrested and charged two U.S. citizens with trying to smuggle these pills into the country…

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