LOS ANGELES
Gregory Hevener, 47, was found guilty of one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin.
He has been in federal custody since February 2022.
The Hawaiian Gardens man sold black tar heroin that was fentanyl to an 18-year-old victim who later ingested it and suffered a fatal overdose from the powerful synthetic opioid.
Hevener is facing up to life in prison when he is sentenced on Sept. 16, officials stated.
According to evidence presented at a seven-day trial, in November 2020, the victim responded to an ad placed by Hevener on the website OfferUp, an online marketplace.
The listing advertised the sale of “BLACK TAR ROOFING MATERIALS!!” – coded language for black tar heroin – in Long Beach.
OfferUp records revealed Hevener operated or had access to several accounts on the platform, in which he advertised and distributed drugs, including heroin and fentanyl.
Hevener and the victim met in Hawaiian Gardens, and the victim purchased what he believed to be heroin from Hevener.
Instead, Hevener sold what was a black, tar-like substance containing fentanyl and tramadol, a pain-relief medication. The victim then drove home and took the drugs, suffering a fatal overdose.
In July and October 2021, law enforcement searched trash cans outside Hevener’s Hawaiian Gardens residence. They seized discarded plastic bags and burnt pieces of tinfoil containing fentanyl and tramadol residue.
Another search in December 2021 resulted in the seizure of a plastic bag containing approximately 245 grams of black tar heroin, a digital scale, burnt tin foil, and a plastic bag containing approximately 1.2 grams of fentanyl.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the El Monte Police Department investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kellye Ng and Maria Jhai of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Kyle W. Kahan of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section are prosecuting this case.