It’s the first time the Merced County District Attorney’s Office has charged someone with murder for allegedly dealing the deadly opioid. (The Merced FOCUS)
Share
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
A San Jose man is facing three murder charges after being linked to deadly fentanyl overdoses in Los Banos, marking the first time the Merced County District Attorney’s Office has charged someone with murder for allegedly dealing deadly doses of the synthetic opioid.
By Elizabeth Wilson
The Merced FOCUS
Raymond Caudillo, 21, is accused of killing Samuel Jimenez Jr., 30, Andrew Villa, 24, and Jaime Lepe Jr., 38, around March 18. The overdose victims were from Los Banos, according to the Merced County Sheriff’s Office.
“This case underscores a clear message that those who knowingly distribute fentanyl causing death will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” officials with the District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
Suspect Faces 95 Years to Life if Convicted
If found guilty, Caudillo could face 95 years to life in prison. The charges come with felony enhancements for aggravation and a prior conviction for a violent felony. Caudillo in 2023 was convicted in Santa Clara County for robbery, court documents show.
Caudillo appeared on video during his arraignment hearing before Judge Paul Lo, who read the charges to him, but he did not enter a plea. The arraignment was continued to 9:30 a.m. May 29. Caudillo remains in custody with no bail.
“The defendant has engaged in violent conduct that indicates a serious danger to society,” the complaint reads.
Merced County Had 26 Fatal ODs in 2024
Fentanyl is a strong synthetic opioid linked to many fatal overdoses, according to the California Department of Public Health. It can be distributed through illegal drug markets in pill or powder form. Merced County had 26 fatal overdoses in 2024, according to most recent available data online.
Many district attorney offices have taken a stricter approach to fentanyl possession in recent years. Riverside County is thought to be the first in California to deliver a guilty verdict in a fentanyl-homicide trial.
The Los Banos Police Department collaborated with the county’s Merced Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team to investigate the deaths.
About the Reporter
Elizabeth Wilson is the public safety reporter for The Merced FOCUS.
RELATED TOPICS:
Categories
