Madera man sentenced for selling fentanyl pill that killed his friend

MADERA, Calif. (KFSN) -- The antheral who pled blameworthy to selling his person a fentanyl pill successful Madera past twelvemonth learned his condemnation successful national tribunal Monday.

"He was idiosyncratic who cared for people; helium loved everybody. You met him, and helium made definite helium made you smile," said Belinda Martinez, the victim's sister.

Martinez says that's however she wants her 24-year-old member Carlos to beryllium remembered.

He died successful August past twelvemonth successful Madera aft his friend, Elias Soliz, sold him a Fentanyl pill.

There was not a adust oculus successful the courtroom erstwhile a justice sentenced Soliz to 10 years successful situation and recommended helium be a substance maltreatment program.

"What's antithetic astir this lawsuit is the organisation of 1 pill, usually idiosyncratic isn't prosecuted for that. The punishment for this usually nether the guidelines is 15 to 20 months; what's antithetic successful this lawsuit is there's a death; that elevates the condemnation up to 10 years," said ineligible analyst, Tony Capozzi.

Capozzi says the work comes successful due to the fact that of the ongoing fentanyl epidemic and the information that conscionable 1 pill tin kill.

"The justice made a truly important comment: if you're selling fentanyl, you should know, unless you unrecorded nether a rock, that idiosyncratic who takes that pill has a 50 percent accidental of dying," said Capozzi.

Madera County District Attorney Sally Moreno says the decade-long situation condemnation sends a connection to cause dealers.

"It demonstrates, that we present successful Madera are not gonna tolerate fentanyl and fentanyl distribution," said Moreno. "These fentanyl dealers. We're gonna travel aft them arsenic hard arsenic we can."

For Carlos's family, they are present focused connected honoring his representation arsenic idiosyncratic who loved the h2o and helped those astir him.

"I deliberation much than thing helium loved to beryllium astatine the skate parkland -- my youngest. Like my sister said, started skateboarding due to the fact that of my brother," said Martinez.

Martinez says portion Monday's sentencing gave them immoderate peace, she ne'er wants anyone other to acquisition the full near successful her heart, by her brother's death.

"I privation it doesn't deed anybody else's family, truthful taking 1 idiosyncratic disconnected the thoroughfare helps a small bit, but it gave america immoderate closure," said Martinez.

Soliz has an extended transgression history. Most recently, successful 2022 helium pled not blameworthy to a 2021 battle with a deadly weapon.

That lawsuit retired of Madera County is inactive ongoing.

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