LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A San Gabriel woman who allegedly sold narcotics to several people who suffered overdoses last week in Pasadena was charged today with a federal drug offense.
Marisol Bolanos Hernandez, 35, faces one count of drug distribution resulting in serious bodily injury, a felony carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a maximum of life behind bars, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Bolanos allegedly sold narcotics to a man who, along with a friend, was found unresponsive at a Pasadena location on the evening of Sept. 11. The two victims were transported to local hospitals, where one recovered, but the other man died two days later.
Pasadena police officers seized white powder residue from the location of the overdoses, but that material has yet to be tested, according to the affidavit in support of the complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court.
At the hospital, the surviving victim, identified as A.C., respondedto Narcan, indicating there were opioids present, and his urine samples were positive for cocaine. He was released from the hospital the following day and told police that he purchased cocaine from ``Mari,'' shared some of the drugs with the deceased victim, and lost consciousness after taking the purported cocaine, according to the affidavit.
Investigators determined that Mari is Bolanos through evidence that includes A.C. identifying her out of a six-photo lineup, the affidavit states. The narcotics distribution charge in the complaint relates to the drugs allegedly sold to the surviving victim.
The affidavit also alleges that Bolanos sold purported cocaine on Sept. 11 to two other overdose victims who required hospitalization and survived. Phone records link Bolaros to a second fatal overdose on Sept. 11, according to the affidavit.
Pasadena police detained Bolanos on Wednesday, and during an interview, she admitting selling what she believed to be cocaine to three of the overdose victims, including A.C., according to the affidavit.
Bolanos was taken into federal custody on Thursday by special agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. She is expected to make her initial federal court appearance today in downtown Los Angeles.
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