Frank Bergman
October 12, 2023
From Slay News
A California judge has thrown the book at a drug dealer convicted of fentanyl murder over the death of a teenager.
The Placer County District Attorney’s office announced Wednesday that 22-year-old Nathaniel Cabacungan received a sentence of 15 years to life.
Cabacungan was found guilty over the death of Roseville teen Jewels Wolf.
The district attorney’s office said in a Facebook post that Cabacungan pleaded guilty on July 12, 2022, to murder and the sale of a controlled substance to a minor causing a fentanyl death.
In the Facebook post, Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire said:
“Our message is simple: do not sell this poison in Placer County.
“This historic sentence affirms our county’s commitment to holding fentanyl dealers accountable.
“Through aggressive prosecution, county-wide investigations, support from our local officials, and our 1 Pill Can Kill Placer campaign, we will save lives through education, enforcement, and empowering our community members,” Gire said.
“We will continue to stand with the Wolf family to honor her memory by educating our kids of the dangers of fentanyl.”
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), fentanyl is largely responsible for the 105,263 drug deaths that occurred between February 2022 and January.
The highly potent synthetic drug is the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 49.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said regarding Cabacungan’s sentence:
“Throughout the nation, we continue to address the impacts of the opioid crisis, and have, in recent years, seen a marked increase in fentanyl use and associated deaths.
“Today we grieve the loss of yet another young life to this drug — a loss that should never have occurred in the first place.
“We hope that today’s sentencing brings some sense of closure to this young woman’s family.
“Let this be a warning to the poison peddlers in California’s neighborhoods: We will hold you accountable.
“I want to thank the Placer County District Attorney and our law enforcement partners in Placer County for working with us to make our community safer.”
