Division of Law Enforcement

California DOJ-led task forces continue work to hold fentanyl dealers accountable

More than 9 million fentanyl pills seized, 1,213 pounds of powder seized, and 200 arrests made by DOJ task forces since April 2022 

ROSEVILLE — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the arrest of a suspect in Placer County for providing a lethal dose of fentanyl that killed a Rocklin father in July of 2023. The suspect was arrested as a result of an investigation by the Placer Special Investigations Unit, led by the California Department of Justice (DOJ), which uncovered evidence that the suspect was aware of the lethal nature of the fentanyl that caused the death of the individual.

“This arrest must send a strong message to California communities: Those who knowingly distribute dangerous fentanyl will be held accountable,” said Attorney General Bonta. “We have seen too many deaths from this lethal drug: children, parents, and friends taken from their loved ones too soon. I can’t say it enough: Californians must steer clear of cheap, dangerous, and lethal illicit drug. We will continue to work with partners throughout California to get this drug out of our communities.”

California DOJ’s Bureau of Investigation PSIU and the Special Operations Unit (SOU) arrested the suspect on October 25, 2023 after he was located in his vehicle in Sacramento. During a search of the suspect’s vehicle, agents located one ounce of fentanyl powder, a quarter ounce of cocaine, and methamphetamine in his possession at the time of arrest. Agents booked the suspect into the Placer County Jail on charges of homicide, possession of opioids for sale, and sale of opiates. The Placer County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting this case.

The Placer Special Investigation Unit (PSIU) is a California DOJ-led narcotics and high-risk probation/post release community supervision task force.  The team is supervised by a California DOJ Bureau of Investigation Task Force Commander who leads task force agents from Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Roseville Police Department, Rocklin Police Department, Auburn Police Department, and Placer County Probation, with support from the California National Guard Counter Drug Team, and the Placer County District Attorney's Office. Additional work by the task force in Placer County includes:

• The August 10, 2022 arrest of Nathaniel Cabacungan for the June 2022 homicide of J. Wolf, a 15-year-old female from Roseville. On October 10, 2023, Attorney General Bonta and Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire announced a 15-year sentence of Cabacungan.
• Felony arrests on August 18, 2023 of two suspected narcotics traffic and the seizure of various illicit drugs including fentanyl, as well as illegal handguns, and large amounts of cash.
• The arrest and manslaughter conviction of Virgil Xavier Bordner, after a 17-year-old high school senior, Zach Didier, tragically lost his life in a fentanyl overdose in Placer County in 2020.

Fentanyl is a powerful and potentially addictive synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin. A small amount of fentanyl, just two milligrams, can result in overdose and potentially death. Fentanyl can be found in different forms, including pills, powder, and liquid, and is produced legally through the legal pharmaceutical market and illegally through the illicit drug market. Illicit fentanyl has been found in many drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine, counterfeit pills, and cocaine. Fentanyl mixed with any drug increases the likelihood of a fatal overdose. Illicit fentanyl has also reportedly been produced in rainbow colors, potentially aimed at increasing consumption among users, especially young adults. 

In California in 2020, 5,502 people died due to opioid overdose, and 3,946 died due to fentanyl overdose. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the nation has experienced the overdose epidemic in three distinct but interconnected waves: an increase in deaths from prescription opioid overdoses since the 1990s, an increase in heroin deaths starting in 2010, and a more recent surge in deaths from other illicit opioids, such as fentanyl.

Attorney General Bonta is addressing this challenge through an all-in, multifaceted approach using ongoing enforcement, litigation, and effective public policy strategies for prevention. In April 2021, Attorney General Bonta established the statewide Fentanyl Enforcement Program that is designed to detect, deter, disrupt, and dismantle criminal fentanyl operations and prevent fentanyl from reaching California neighborhoods and communities. The program is housed in California DOJ’s Bureau of Investigation, which works with allied task forces, including local and federal law enforcement partners through California. Since April 2022, the California DOJ task forces have seized approximately 9,348,852 fentanyl pills, 1,213 pounds of powder, and made over 200 arrests.

In addition to this on-the-ground work, Attorney General Bonta continues advancing effective public policy and working with national partners to hold the opioid industry accountable for their role in creating the opioid crisis and its impacts. To date, California DOJ has secured over $32 billion through nationwide settlements, including $2 billion for California, bringing needed funding back to communities for treatment and prevention strategies.

Attorney General Bonta works with policymakers and state leaders to address fentanyl and improve education about the dangers of the drug in California. For the 2023 legislative session, Attorney General Bonta supported the following pieces of legislation which were signed into law by Governor Newsom:

• Assembly Bill 33, authored by Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, establishes the Fentanyl Misuse and Overdose Prevention Task Force to be cochaired by the Attorney General and the State Public Health Officer
• Assembly Bill 663, authored by Assemblymember Matt Haney, allows for certain controlled substances approved for the treatment of opioid use disorder to be carried and dispensed at county-operated mobile pharmacy units and authorizes the operation of multiple mobile units within one jurisdiction.
• Assembly Bill 701, authored by Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua, applies the existing weight enhancements that increase the penalty and fine for trafficking substances containing heroin, cocaine base, and cocaine to fentanyl.
• Senate Bill 10, authored by Senator Dave Cortese, establishes Melanie’s Law, requiring school safety plans of schools serving students in grades seven to 12 to include a protocol for responding to a student’s opioid overdose; and requires the California Department of Education and the California Health and Human Services Agency, subject to an appropriation for this purpose, to establish the State Working Group on Fentanyl Education in Schools.
• Senate Bill 250, authored by Senator Tom Umberg, expands immunity protections for individuals reporting opioid-related overdoses in cases of medical assistance, and also for individuals reporting substances that test positive for fentanyl to law enforcement.

More information about Attorney General Bonta’s strategies to address the fentanyl crisis can be found at oag.ca.gov/fentanyl.

California DOJ continues all-in approach to address the fentanyl crisis through enforcement, litigation, and effective public policy 

SAN DIEGO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced that the California Department of Justice (California DOJ) has joined the Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team (FAST), a joint effort by U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), as well as other law enforcement agencies, to target fentanyl being trafficked through the Southern Border and into San Diego County. Attorney General Bonta made the announcement at a Fentanyl Roundtable today cohosted by the Attorney General, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, and San Diego County Supervisor Nora Vargas. The roundtable brought together local, state, and federal leaders to discuss and collaborate on California’s efforts to end the fentanyl crisis. At the event, Attorney General Bonta discussed California DOJ’s strategy to address this multifaceted crisis by collaborating on enforcement operations and seizures with law enforcement partners statewide, bringing billions of dollars for recovery services into California by holding the opioid industry accountable, and developing and implementing effective public policy solutions with legislative partners.  

“California is all-in when it comes to addressing fentanyl and protecting the safety of our communities,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Fentanyl is a threat to our communities as it is cheap, potent, and very lethal. Fentanyl can be disguised in common drugs, and just a small amount is enough to potentially kill a user. We urge Californians, especially our youth, to steer clear of this lethal drug. We will continue working with law enforcement partners to address this crisis. I am proud today to announce our newest partnership as we join FAST, and confident that our investigative resources and legal support will help stop the flow of fentanyl into our state and keep it out of our communities.”

“This is a problem that demands a unified response from all segments of our society – government, healthcare, law enforcement, and the community. Today, we are standing united to stop the misery that fentanyl is causing in San Diego and across California,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. ”In San Diego, we are sending the message to dealers that preying on our children, our families and people experiencing homelessness will not be tolerated -- and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”

“We are incredibly grateful to Attorney General Bonta for adding two prosecutors to the Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team, known as FAST,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “FAST was formed one year ago and is already a model across the country. During its inaugural year, FAST led or supported more than 70 law enforcement operations resulting in the arrest of 53 fentanyl smugglers, distributors, and dealers in San Diego County. Collaboration with partners like AG Bonta is a critical force multiplier in our fight against fentanyl.”

Fentanyl is a powerful and potentially addictive synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin. A small amount of fentanyl, just two milligrams, can result in overdose and potentially death. Fentanyl can be found in different forms, including pills, powder, and liquid, and is produced legally through the legal pharmaceutical market and illegally through the illicit drug market. Illicit fentanyl has been found in many drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine, counterfeit pills, and cocaine. Fentanyl mixed with any drug increases the likelihood of a fatal overdose. Illicit fentanyl has also reportedly been produced in rainbow colors, potentially aimed at increasing consumption among users, especially young adults. 

In California in 2020, 5,502 people died due to opioid overdose, and 3,946 died due to fentanyl overdose. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the nation has experienced the overdose epidemic in three distinct but interconnected waves: an increase in deaths from prescription opioid overdoses since the 1990s, an increase in heroin deaths starting in 2010, and a more recent surge in deaths from other illicit opioids, such as fentanyl.

Attorney General Bonta is addressing this challenge through an all-in, multifaceted approach using ongoing enforcement, litigation, and effective public policy strategies for prevention. California DOJ works with law enforcement partners to take fentanyl out of communities and hold poison peddlers accountable. Since April 2022, the California DOJ has seized approximately 9,348,852 fentanyl pills seized, 1,213 pounds of powder seized, and over 200 arrests. This includes a Placer County arrest leading to the first-in-the-state homicide conviction against a fentanyl dealer for providing a lethal dose leading to the death of a 15-year-old girl. In addition to this on-the-ground work, Attorney General Bonta continues advancing effective public policy and working with national partners to hold the opioid industry accountable for their role in creating the opioid crisis and its impacts. To date, California DOJ has secured over $32 billion through nationwide settlements, including $2 billion for California, bringing needed funding back to communities for treatment and prevention strategies.

Today, Attorney General Bonta announced that California DOJ would expand this work by entering into the FAST, which focuses on the flow of fentanyl from the California-Mexico Border. FAST is a multiagency taskforce, first established in August 2022, focused on the disruption and dismantlement of criminal organizations who smuggle and distribute fentanyl within San Diego County. FAST targets fentanyl smuggling and distribution networks to counter the rising overdose rate and decrease the availability and accessibility of fentanyl. San Diego County has experienced a 700% increase in fentanyl overdose deaths since 2016, linked to fentanyl — both counterfeit pills and powder — being smuggled from Mexico into the United States. FAST uses traditional and advanced investigative techniques to target the individuals and criminal organizations involved in fentanyl smuggling and distribution. California DOJ joins HSI San Diego, with full time partnership from U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations (CBP OFO), Enforcement and Removal Operations, the United States Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and the San Diego USAO in this work.

Attorney General Bonta’s Fentanyl Enforcement Program

This announcement supplements the current enforcement work of California DOJ. In April 2021, Attorney General Bonta established the statewide Fentanyl Enforcement Program that is designed to detect, deter, disrupt, and dismantle criminal fentanyl operations and prevent fentanyl from reaching California neighborhoods and communities. The program is housed in California DOJ’s Bureau of Investigation, which works with allied task forces, including local and federal law enforcement partners through California. This work has touched many communities through operations to remove fentanyl from California communities including in Placer and Merced Counties, and to advance legal actions to hold manufacturers and distributors accountable.

In the 2023 Budget Act, California DOJ secured $7.9 million for the creation of the program within DOJ under coordination of the Bureau of Investigation to expand this important work, with an allocation of $6.7 million in ongoing funding. This funding is in addition to DOJ's ongoing efforts through its Bureau of Forensic Services, which, among other things, supports law enforcement across the state by directly screening for and quantifying the amount of fentanyl present in drug offense-related samples submitted to DOJ.

Litigation to Hold the Opioid Industry Accountable

The opioid crisis stems from an increase in prescription opioids and illegal practices by opioid manufacturers and sellers who misled healthcare providers and patients about the addictive nature of opioids, contributed to an over-supply of opioids in the market, and helped create the crisis the country faces today. Through ongoing litigation and investigative efforts, DOJ seeks to hold opioid manufacturers and distributors who are alleged to have fueled the crisis to account, and to bring funding and relief to affected communities nationwide, including: 

• $26 billion through a settlement with Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen – the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors – and Johnson & Johnson, a company that manufactured and marketed opioids.
• $6 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family over their role in the opioid epidemic.
• Nearly $6 billion settlement pending with opioid manufacturers Allergan and Teva to participating states and local governments, resolving allegations the companies deceptively marketed opioids and failed to maintain controls to prevent diversion. 
• $573 million settlement with McKinsey & Company resolving California’s investigation into the company’s role in advising opioid companies, helping those companies promote their drugs, and profiting from the opioid epidemic.  

Public Policy and Legislation

Attorney General Bonta works with policymakers and state leaders to address fentanyl and improve education about the dangers of the drug in California. For the 2023 legislative session, Attorney General Bonta supported the following pieces of legislation which were signed by Governor Newsom into law:

• Assembly Bill 33, authored by Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, establishes the Fentanyl Misuse and Overdose Prevention Task Force to be cochaired by the Attorney General and the State Public Health Officer
• Assembly Bill 663, authored by Assemblymember Matt Haney, allows for certain controlled substances approved for the treatment of opioid use disorder to be carried and dispensed at county-operated mobile pharmacy units and authorizes the operation of multiple mobile units within one jurisdiction.
• Assembly Bill 701, authored by Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua, applies the existing weight enhancements that increase the penalty and fine for trafficking substances containing heroin, cocaine base, and cocaine to fentanyl.
• Senate Bill 10, authored by Senator Dave Cortese, establishes Melanie’s Law, requiring school safety plans of schools serving students in grades seven to 12 to include a protocol for responding to a student’s opioid overdose; and requires the California Department of Education and the California Health and Human Services Agency, subject to an appropriation for this purpose, to establish the State Working Group on Fentanyl Education in Schools.
• Senate Bill 250, authored by Senator Tom Umberg, expands immunity protections for individuals reporting opioid-related overdoses in cases of medical assistance, and also for individuals reporting substances that test positive for fentanyl to law enforcement.

More information about Attorney General Bonta’s strategies to address the fentanyl crisis can be found at oag.ca.gov/fentanyl.

FRESNO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the California Highway Patrol today announced the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of more than 45 pounds of illicit drugs, including methamphetamine and fentanyl, in Fresno County. The arrest is the result of an initial CHP traffic stop on September 21, 2023, and subsequent investigation by California Department of Justice’s High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT). The suspects, who were operating the vehicle without drivers’ licenses, are alleged to have been transporting the narcotics from Oakland to Los Angeles. The CHP officers and DOJ agents identified 43 pounds of methamphetamine and 2.5 pounds of illicit fentanyl that had been hidden in various areas inside the vehicle. The case was referred to the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

“Throughout the state, the California Department of Justice and our allied partners are working together to prevent illicit and dangerous drugs from entering our communities,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Together we have made hundreds of arrests and seized thousands of pounds of narcotics. These arrests and seizures should send a clear message: We will not tolerate the transport and sale of illegal narcotics within California. I want to thank our teams and our law enforcement partners across the state; there are countless lives being saved as a result of their important and difficult work.”

The High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT) is a California DOJ Bureau of Investigation-led multiagency task force, federally funded through the national High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. It is comprised of members from the California Department of Justice, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation-Special Services Unit, Fresno County Sheriff's Office, Madera County Sheriff’s Office, Kings County Sheriff’s Office, Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, Fresno Police Department, Fresno County District Attorney's Office, California Highway Patrol, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. As part of DOJ’s task force program, the participating agencies of HIIT work in collaboration to combat drug trafficking organizations, violent career criminals and gangs. These unique and essential teams use the latest technology and advanced investigative techniques and work alongside local, state, and federal law enforcement to enhance investigations into violent criminals and organized crime throughout the state.

It is important to note that a criminal complaint contains charges that are only allegations against a person. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.

 Attorney General Bonta continues DOJ’s work with local, state, and federal partners to: 

• End the fentanyl crisis through efforts with state and local law partners, securing ongoing funding for DOJ fentanyl enforcement, operations to remove fentanyl from California communities including in Placer, Merced, Fresno, and Orange Counties, and legal actions to hold manufacturers and distributors accountable. Since April 2022, DOJ fentanyl seizures totaled approximately 9,348,852 fentanyl pills seized, 1,213 pounds of powder seized, and over 200 arrests.
• Prevent gun violence through the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, operations to get guns out of the hands of prohibited persons; and legislation to strengthen California laws and the hold the firearm industry accountable.
• Take down human trafficking rings in San Diego, Kings County, and throughout California, and launching Human Trafficking and Sexual Predator Apprehension Teams within the DOJ. To date, the teams have arrested approximately 649 traffickers and assisted or supported 650 victims in operations throughout the state.
• Combat retail theft by securing felony sentencing in one of the largest organized retail theft operations ever busted in California history, announcing felony charges against members of a statewide organized retail theft ring, filing charges in operations involving thefts of Home Depot, Apple stores, and Microsoft, by bringing law enforcement and retailers together to address this problem head-on, and creating better communication and information-sharing with retailers and online marketplaces.
• Dismantle gangs and protect neighborhoods in Fresno, Riverside, Sacramento,  San Bernardino, Stockton, Visalia, and Yuba City.
• Work together with the community to find public safety solutions in Stockton and San Diego.
• Protect elders from abuse and neglect by prosecuting bad actors who steal, defraud, or harm and abuse our elders.  

The California Department of Justice is hiring. Visit oag.ca.gov/careers to view available positions and learn how you can help DOJ protect the health, well-being, and public safety of Californians.

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a bulletin to California local law enforcement agencies reminding them of their obligations under state law to enact policies and procedures to help improve reporting, enforcement, and education regarding crimes against seniors and persons with disabilities. Although seniors and persons with disabilities are more likely to be victims of serious crimes, these crimes have been historically underreported. To better address this challenge, in 2019, California enacted Senate Bill 338, The Senior and Disability Justice Act (SB 338) to encourage local law enforcement agencies to adopt comprehensive policies to improve reporting and investigations of disability and elder abuse. Attorney General Bonta’s advisory reminds these agencies of the requirements under SB 338 and urges each of them to reach compliance as soon as possible to protect the safety of seniors and persons with disabilities statewide.

“Law enforcement has a legal and moral obligation to do all they can to ensure that the rights of seniors and people with disabilities are protected,” said Attorney General Bonta. “When crimes go unreported or are improperly documented, these crimes and their victims remain in the dark. We must provide these victims with the accountability and the justice that they are entitled to. I urge all agencies to review their policies to ensure they are consistent with SB 338 and recognize seniors’ and people with disabilities’ equal protections under the law.”

People with disabilities, including disabilities caused by advanced age, are more likely to be victims of serious crimes, such as abuse, sexual assault, hate crimes, domestic violence, and human trafficking. Nationally, people with disabilities are at least 3.4 times more likely to be victimized by violent crimes than people without disabilities. People with cognitive disabilities — including intellectual disabilities and dementia— are even more likely to be victims of violent crime, at 5.5 times the rate of people without disabilities. This is especially concerning in California, where the number of seniors and people with disabilities are rapidly increasing.

In 2019, California enacted SB 338 to draw attention to the wide extent of crimes against seniors and people with disabilities; reinforce that these acts are crimes, not merely civil matters; and strongly encourage every local law enforcement agency to adopt a comprehensive policy concerning these crimes, including effective, accountable, and locally developed protocols for carrying out the agency’s existing responsibilities.

Despite their prevalence, crimes against seniors and persons with disabilities continue to be underreported. For example, while 40,000 anti-disability hate crimes were estimated to have occurred nationally in 2017, California law enforcement agencies reported just four such incidents in 2017 and seven incidents in 2018. Moreover, even when senior and disability victimization is reported, the response by law enforcement may be inadequate. For example, one survey of crime victims with disabilities found that perpetrators were arrested just less than 10% of the time. The majority of victims— nearly 53%—reported that nothing happened after they reported abuse to the authorities.

The bulletin, issued by the California Department of Justice’s Division of Law Enforcement outlines that municipal police or county sheriffs’ departments that adopt or revise a policy regarding elder and dependent adult abuse or senior and disability victimization on or after April 13, 2021, must include the 28 items stated in Penal Code section 368.6, subdivision (c). The items provide clear definitions and information on the wide prevalence of crimes against seniors and people with disabilities. The legislation also requires including provisions related to extensive training on senior and disability victimization, a requirement that officers investigate every report of senior and disability victimization, detailed protocols for handling these crimes, and provisions regarding outreach to the senior and disability communities to encourage reporting and prevention of these crimes.

The bulletin may be viewed here.