January 15, 2023 - SAN DIEGO—Alexander Michael Randise of Ocean Beach was sentenced on Friday in federal court to 188 months in prison for distribution of fentanyl that resulted in the fatal overdose of 30-year-old Tyber Joseph Lustig.

According to his plea agreement, Randise admitted providing four counterfeit M-30 pills laced with fentanyl, commonly referred to as “blues,” to Lustig on December 11, 2021. These pills caused Lustig to have a fatal overdose. Randise had been selling counterfeit M-30 pills laced with fentanyl to Lustig and others for at least one year prior to Lustig’s death. Randise instructed Lustig in a drug transaction approximately one year prior to Lustig’s death that Lustig needed to “be careful” because the pills were “[really] strong.”

On January 5, 2022, law enforcement officials conducted a search of two of Randise’s residences in Ocean Beach. During the search, authorities seized approximately 680 counterfeit M-30 pills laced with fentanyl, 2.33 grams of cocaine, suspected MDMA, $1,175 in U.S. currency, and a loaded 9-millimeter non-serialized handgun.

U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said: “Fentanyl has taken so many lives. Our community lost another bright and extremely talented young man to this epidemic. We stand together with our law enforcement partners in stating directly: If you choose to sell drugs and a death results, you will be held accountable for that death.”

Grossman thanked the prosecution team and investigating agencies for their excellent work on this case.

“Another young person is gone too soon and another family is shattered because of fentanyl,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Shelly Howe. “Fentanyl dealers are a top priority for the DEA and our law enforcement partners and we will continue to attack this crisis at every level.”

“HSI will continue to work tirelessly alongside its San Diego law enforcement partners to bring justice to those who distribute fentanyl in our community,” said Chad Plantz, special agent in charge for HSI San Diego.

Special Agents and Task Force Officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Response Team (formerly known as Team 10) led the investigation into Lustig’s death. This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the San Diego Police Department, and the California Department of Health Care Services to investigate and prosecute the distribution of dangerous illegal drugs—fentanyl in particular—that result in overdose deaths. In 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration created the Overdose Response Team as a response to the increase in overdose deaths in San Diego County.

DEFENDANT                                               Case Number 22-CR-497-JLS                                            

Alexander Michael Randise                         Age: 29              San Diego, CA

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Distribution of Fentanyl – Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)(C)

Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison

AGENCY

Drug Enforcement Administration

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Homeland Security Investigations

San Diego County District Attorney’s Office

San Diego Police Department

State of California Department of Health Care Services

Source: DOJ Release 

Photo credit: DEA