In a groundbreaking legal case for Ventura County, Charity Faith Wiley, a 40-year-old resident of Reseda, pled guilty to second-degree murder on Monday.
This marks the county’s first-ever murder conviction related to a fentanyl overdose. Wiley admitted to selling a lethal mix of fentanyl and xylazine to a man from Simi Valley, who subsequently overdosed and died. The victim’s identity has not been disclosed by authorities.
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced the conviction, emphasizing the county’s commitment to holding drug dealers accountable. “Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message that fentanyl dealers will be held accountable for the lives they destroy,” said Nasarenko, as reported by KTLA.
Wiley also pled guilty to five additional felonies, including drug possession, sales activity, gun possession, and money laundering. She acknowledged several aggravating factors, indicating a high degree of planning and professionalism in her criminal activities. The case began on June 6, 2024, when the Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VC FOCUS) responded to an overdose incident in Simi Valley. Toxicology reports confirmed the presence of a lethal dose of fentanyl and xylazine in the victim’s system.
Following a thorough investigation, authorities traced the drugs back to Wiley, leading to her arrest on March 5, 2025. She remains in custody without bail and faces a potential sentence of 15 years to life in state prison, with sentencing scheduled for September 1, 2026, in Ventura County Court.
The Ventura County Medical Examiner reported 216 overdose deaths in 2025, with fentanyl or a combination of fentanyl and other drugs found in 134 cases. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is significantly more potent than morphine and is frequently linked to overdose deaths in the United States.
Local health officials urge the public to be aware of the dangers of synthetic opioids. Resources and free overdose rescue kits are available through the county’s public health portal at ThinkAgainVC.com.
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