LOS ANGELES — A federal jury has convicted a Palmdale man on six felony drug trafficking and firearm charges, including distributing fentanyl that caused the overdose death of an active-duty U.S. Marine stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, federal prosecutors announced Friday.
Jordan Nicholas McCormick, 31, was found guilty Thursday of:
- Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death;
- Distribution of fentanyl resulting in death;
- Distribution of fentanyl;
- Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
- Possession with intent to distribute LSD; and
- Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
McCormick faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
According to evidence presented during the 17-day trial, McCormick participated in a drug trafficking conspiracy from at least October 2019 through September 2020. Prosecutors said he and his co-conspirators distributed several illegal drugs, including LSD, counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, and counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl.
Authorities said the group coordinated drug sales through text messages and Snapchat.
Evidence showed that on May 21, 2020, McCormick texted a co-conspirator that he was meeting his “oxy guy” who had “a boat,” referring to 1,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills commonly known as “M30s.”
The following day, prosecutors said McCormick sold 1,000 of the counterfeit pills to a co-conspirator, who later advertised them on Snapchat. That night, the co-conspirator sold approximately 10 pills to a 20-year-old Marine identified in court records as “L.M.”
The Marine died in the early morning hours of May 23, 2020, after ingesting the fentanyl-laced pills.
On July 26, 2020, McCormick sold another 1,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills to the same co-conspirator, prosecutors said.
Three days later, investigators arrested the co-conspirator and seized approximately 900 counterfeit pills that laboratory testing confirmed contained fentanyl, along with several firearms, including a 9mm ghost gun lacking a serial number.
Federal agents later executed search warrants at McCormick’s residence, vehicle and on his person in September 2020. Investigators recovered drug trafficking materials, laboratory-confirmed methamphetamine, LSD, and a 9mm Glock semiautomatic pistol.