Ed Buck, a California political donor to the Democratic Party, was found guilty by a federal grand jury on charges that included providing methamphetamine, resulting in the overdose deaths of two men.
Buck has donated $53,000 to Democratic candidates since 2008, according to federal election records. He donated to former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for their campaigns. Other recipients included House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.).
Buck had pleaded not guilty to all of the nine felony counts. The jury deliberated for more than four hours after a two-week trial. The guilty verdict on all nine felony counts could lead to a life sentence.
The verdict came exactly four years after Moore’s death. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
“Today is bittersweet,” LaTisha Nixon, Moore’s mother, said after the verdict. “We got victory today.”
Prosecutors previously said that Buck had lured Moore, who was homeless, to Los Angeles “with the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.”
It also alleged that Buck had prepared syringes containing meth and sometimes injected his victims without their consent, including sometimes injecting them while they were unconscious.
“Buck exerted power over his victims, often targeting vulnerable individuals who were destitute, homeless, and/or struggled with drug addiction, in order to exploit the relative wealth and power imbalance between them,” the indictment alleged.