Oroville teen suspected of selling fentanyl to minors who overdosed
An 18-year- old was arraigned in the Butte County Superior Court on Friday afternoon for charges related to a Butte County Sheriff’s Office-led investigation into three juveniles who overdosed on Xanax pills likely containing fentanyl.
Knowa Massey, 18, of Oroville, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of possession of cocaine for sale, possession of a narcotic substance for sale, three counts of chi ld endangerment, sel l ing a control led substance to minor victims, committing felonies which caused great bodily injury and possession of marijuana for sale.
The arrest came two days after a minor called the Sheriff’s Office on Monday evening reporting that three of her friends, all juveniles, had overdosed on Xanax pills. Deputies and medical personnel responded to the Palermo residence where it occurred and the three were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Detectives with the Felony Investigations Unit, Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force, Special Enforcement Unit and the Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit launched an investigation into the overdoses. During the follow-up investigation, detectives determined the Xanax pills were counterfeit and “likely” contained fentanyl, according to a Sheriff’s Office press release.
On Tuesday, detectives served a search warrant at a Palermo residence located on Baldwin Avenue. Detectives said they found evidence related to the investigation during the search, and on Wednesday, they identified Massey as the person they suspect is responsible for selling the counterfeit pills.
That same evening, with help from the Oroville Police Department, detectives served a search warrant at Massey’s residence, located in the 100 block of Grand Avenue in Oroville. While searching the residence, detectives said they found large quantities of Xanax pills that they suspect contain fentanyl, in addition to packaged cocaine and marijuana suspected to be for sale, the release said.
Detectives said they found additional evidence to confirm Massey sold the pills to the juveniles. They also claimed Massey “knew the pills he sold to the juveniles were extremely potent,” the release said.
Massey was subsequently booked into the Butte County Jail on Wednesday evening.
The Sheriff’s Office issued a notice of caution to the public about counterfeit pills, saying “medications not obtained from legitimate pharmacists and illicit drugs like methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine and counterfeit pills can be laced with fentanyl,” the release said. “Illicit drugs containing fentanyl could result in death if ingested. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, can be up to 100 times more potent than morphine.”
Additionally, the BINTF issued a release on March 30 reporting a rise in overdoses across the county linked to counterfeit pills containing fentanyl.
The BINTF said the most popular counterfeit pills are oxycodone pills that are commonly called “M30’s” and Xanax pills that are commonly referred to as “zani bars.” The counterfeit pills are manufactured using a pill press and can appear to look like any form of legitimate prescription medication. An amount as small as two milligrams — the equivalent size of seven grains of salt — is enough to be a fatal dose.
The Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with additional information about Massey to contact detectives at 5387671, and anyone with information about illegal narcotics sales in the county to contact the BINTF at 538-2261.