LOS ANGELES—A Westlake Village man was sentenced on Aug. 30 to over 15 years in federal prison for his role in a drug ring that distributed heroin to a 23-year-old man who died of an overdose.
Bradford Shepley, 38, was also ordered to serve six years of supervised release following his prison term, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Mr. Shepley pleaded guilty in May to a federal charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin. Prosecutors recommended no more than 15 and a half years in prison, a sentence which takes into consideration the defendant’s prior conviction for a felony drug offense, according to papers filed in Los Angeles federal court.
Mr. Shepley’s role involved obtaining the heroin that was distributed to customers by two others.
On or about Nov. 4, 2017, a co-conspirator and a customer identified as K.S. exchanged text messages in which they used coded language to arrange for a pickup. The next day, Mr. Shepley provided heroin to the co-conspirator to sell to K.S., prosecutors said.
A third member of the ring drove Mr. Shepley and the accomplice to the parking lot of a Target store in Westlake Village to meet K.S. for the transaction. The buy was captured by the store’s security cameras, according to court papers.
After the heroin was sold to K.S., the money was handed over to Mr. Shepley, his plea agreement states.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said K.S. used the heroin that Mr. Shepley provided, and overdosed in his bedroom at his parent’s house. The medical examiner concluded that he died as a result of heroin intoxication.
Court records involving the co-conspirators were sealed and unavailable to the public.
