Woman Sentenced For Supplying Lethal Fentanyl Dose

RIVERSIDE – Today, a Riverside County woman was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison after a jury convicted her of second-degree murder for supplying the lethal fentanyl that caused the death of a Riverside County man.

Savanna Michelle Carlos, DOB: 08-13-2002, of Moreno Valley was convicted by a jury after just over two hours of deliberations.
Jesse Jimenez, DOB: 05-01-1995, was found deceased in his bedroom after suffering a fatal fentanyl poisoning. Investigators recovered a partially burned fentanyl pill and the victim's cellphone, which became critical pieces of evidence in reconstructing the events leading to his death.

The investigation revealed the victim had spent hours contacting numerous individuals to obtain fentanyl. Through search warrants, cellphone extractions, social media records, financial records, and other digital evidence, investigators determined Carlos was the only individual who agreed to deliver fentanyl to the victim's home.

Evidence presented at trial established that approximately 30 minutes after the delivery, the victim sent a text message stating he was smoking the fentanyl. Several hours later, the victim was seen alive by his mother before she later discovered him deceased. Prosecutors used the digital evidence and investigative findings to establish that the fentanyl delivered by the defendant caused the victim's death.

Jurors also heard evidence that months before the fatal poisoning, Carlos was present at another individual’s fentanyl poisoning, performed CPR on the victim, and was warned by law enforcement about the deadly dangers of fentanyl. Despite that warning, she continued selling fentanyl, including the sale that resulted in the victim's death. Evidence further showed she continued selling fentanyl after learning of the victim's poisoning.

The case, RIF2304976, was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Seth DuMouchel of the Special Prosecutions Region.