A San Diego man who sold fentanyl pills to a woman, leading to her fatal overdose, was sentenced Monday to 97 months in prison.
29-year-old Derek Neal Turfler pleaded guilty to selling pills to Faithe Sioban Thogode, 27, who fatally overdosed on May 9, 2022.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said that Turfler knew that Thogode victim was going through a relapse, worked at a drug and alcohol treatment center, and had just celebrated five years of sobriety. Prosecutors say Turfler was himself an addict and thus knew the dangers of fentanyl, yet still sold Thogode the pills.
San Diego U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath said in a statement, “Faithe Thogode is not a statistic. She was a loving daughter and a devoted friend to dozens of people who appeared in court today to show their lasting appreciation for her infectious laugh and kind heart.”
At the time of Thogode’s death, Turfler was on probation for driving under the influence of fentanyl causing great bodily harm. The U.S. Attorney’s Office cited that conviction in saying that Thogode’s death was “not the first time the defendant had seriously hurt someone due to fentanyl.”