LOS ANGELES
A federal jury found a Montebello man guilty Wednesday of distributing fentanyl to a buyer, according to authorities.
The buyer then distributed it to a victim who, the next day, suffered a fatal overdose of the powerful synthetic opioid at a Long Beach drug treatment facility in late 2021.
Juan Carlos Gutierrez, 33, a.k.a. “Johnny G,” was found guilty of one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and serious bodily injury, a felony offense.
He faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced.
According to evidence presented at an eight-day trial, Gutierrez, on Dec. 9, 2021, distributed fentanyl to co-defendant Jayleen Feusier, 36, of South Gate.
Previously that night, Feusier agreed to get fentanyl for the victim, a 34-year-old man who was residing at a Long Beach drug treatment facility.
In exchange for $60, Feusier agreed to procure fentanyl for the victim from Gutierrez, officials stated.
Later that evening, Feusier broke off about one gram of the fentanyl that Gutierrez had provided, packaged it in a tiny plastic baggie, and put it, along with a lighter and other drug paraphernalia, into a tiny box.
She then concealed the box in a bag with a black t-shirt, ordered an Uber delivery service, and placed the item on the backseat of the vehicle to be delivered to the victim at the rehabilitation facility.
Feusier sent a tracking link to the victim so he could monitor the Uber’s journey.
Around 11 p.m. that night, the victim jumped a fence, retrieved the package from the Uber vehicle, and returned to the drug treatment facility.
Approximately six hours later, the victim’s body was discovered in the facility’s living room, surrounded by the drug paraphernalia sent by Feusier.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that a fentanyl overdose was to blame for the victim’s death.
U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr. scheduled an Oct. 15 sentencing hearing. Gutierrez has been in federal custody since May 2023.
Feusier, who has been in federal custody since February 6, pleaded guilty on March 5 to one count of distribution of fentanyl. She faces up to 20 years in federal prison at her sentencing hearing, which is expected to occur in the coming months.
The DEA and the Long Beach Police Department investigated this matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy K. Beecher and Danbee C. Kim of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.