July 9, 2021 - SAN DIEGO—Olatunde James Temitope Akintonde of El Cajon pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday, admitting that he sold fentanyl-laced pills that caused the death of a nineteen-year-old Santee man, identified in court records as S.J.G., in March of 2019.

According to his plea agreement, Akintonde admitted that he sent messages to S.J.G. through social media on February 28, 2019, to coordinate the sale of what the victim believed to be oxycodone pills. Later that evening, Akintonde delivered two counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl to S.J.G. After the meeting, Akintonde sent additional messages to S.J.G. through social media warning that he should only take one of the pills because they were “strong.” Akintonde further admitted in his plea agreement that the pills he gave to S.J.G. caused his death. According to other filings in the case, S.J.G. died in his home sometime in the evening of February 28, 2019 or the early morning hours of March 1, 2019.

“The epidemic of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills poisoning our community has raised the stakes of drug dealing considerably,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “Dealers who ignore these risks and carry on with their deadly trade will be pursued and prosecuted.” Grossman praised prosecutors Michael Deshong and Adam Gordon as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Narcotics Task Force Team 10, officials from the San Diego Sheriff’s Department and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for their excellent work on this case.

“As fentanyl-related overdose deaths continue to rise at an alarming rate in San Diego County and throughout the United States, DEA is determined to track down these drug dealers and bring them to justice,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge John W. Callery.

Akintonde is scheduled to be sentenced on September 24, 2021 at 10 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino.

This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration to investigate and prosecute the distribution of dangerous illegal drugs—fentanyl, in particular—that result in overdose deaths. The Drug Enforcement Administration created Narcotics Task Force Team 10 as a response to the increase in overdose deaths in San Diego County. Agents from Team 10 contributed to the investigation into S.J.G.’s death.

DEFENDANTS                                             Case Number 21cr1178-JLS                                        

Olatunde James Temitope Akintonde            Age: 23                       El Cajon, CA

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Distribution of Fentanyl – Title 18, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1)

Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison

AGENCY

Drug Enforcement Administration

San Diego Sheriff’s Department

San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
Source: DOJ Release