SAN DIEGO—A man who sold fentanyl that resulted in the death of a Carlsbad man pleaded guilty on July 27 to federal fentanyl distribution and possession charges.
Jason Michael Bradford was arrested last year in connection with the death of a man identified in court documents only as M.R.S.
The victim was found dead at his home on the morning of Oct. 12, 2022.
The criminal complaint filed last year against Mr. Bradford states Carlsbad police discovered Facebook communications between Mr. Bradford and M.R.S. that indicated Mr. Bradford was the victim’s source for drugs.
An officer then posed as M.R.S. and messaged Mr. Bradford for more drugs, according to the complaint, which states Mr. Bradford was arrested at the intended meet-up spot and was found with fentanyl on him.
Last year, officials announced that Mr. Bradford’s prosecution was the first brought by the newly created Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team—or FAST.
The multi-agency task force targets local fentanyl distributors “in San Diego County that are responsible for fatal and non-fatal overdoses.”
The Homeland Security Investigations-led task force works in partnership with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
