A man has been sentenced to seven years in prison after getting caught with a large number of counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl at a casino in California. Samuel Westphalt pleaded guilty to the charges.
deputies reviewed surveillance footage and saw Westphalt hiding the drugs in communal areas
Staff at the Chicken Ranch Casino in Jamestown had discovered about 23 pills around the property and reported the find to law enforcement. Sheriff’s deputies reviewed surveillance footage and saw Westphalt hiding the drugs in communal areas of the casino.
A search of his hotel room and vehicle uncovered 902 grams of the pills, with text messages on his mobile device showing drug exchange directions.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is very potent and carries a strong overdose risk. It’s between 50 and 100 times stronger than morphine. Punishment for people selling fentanyl has intensified in California due to the large number of fatalities.
