Hawaiian Gardens man convicted of selling fentanyl that killed 18-year-old – Press Telegram

LOS ANGELES – A Hawaiian Gardens man was found guilty Monday of selling alleged black tar heroin (which was actually fentanyl) to an 18-year-old victim who later ingested it and suffered a fatal overdose of the powerful synthetic opioid.

Gregory Hevener, 47, was found guilty on one federal count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and possession with intent to distribute heroin in downtown Los Angeles. He has been in federal custody since February 2022.

According to evidence presented at a seven-day trial, the victim responded to an ad placed by Hevener on the website OfferUp, an online marketplace, in November 2020. The ad promoted the sale of “black tar roofing materials” – a coded term for black tar heroin – in Long Beach.

OfferUp records show that Hevener operated or had access to multiple accounts on the platform through which he promoted and distributed drugs, including heroin and fentanyl.

Hevener and the victim met in Hawaiian Gardens and the victim bought what he thought was heroin from Hevener. Instead, Hevener sold a black, tar-like substance that contained fentanyl and tramadol, a painkiller. The victim then drove home and took the drugs, suffering what evidence showed was a fatal overdose.

In July and October 2021, authorities searched trash cans outside Hevener’s Hawaiian Gardens residence and seized discarded plastic bags and burnt pieces of aluminum foil containing residues of fentanyl and tramadol.

During another search in December 2021, a plastic bag containing approximately 245 grams of black tar heroin, a digital scale, burnt aluminum foil and a plastic bag containing approximately 1.2 grams of fentanyl were seized, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

U.S. District Judge Mark C. Scarsi has scheduled a sentencing hearing for September 16, at which time Hevener faces a prison sentence of between 20 years and life, prosecutors said.