October 11, 2023 - ROSEVILLE, CALIF. — Placer County Sheriff's Office officials report that victory was reached on Tuesday morning in our battle to fight the Fentanyl epidemic in Placer County. 21-year-old Nathaniel Cabacungan of Roseville was sentenced to 15 years to life for second degree murder and selling, giving, and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor. This is the FIRST murder conviction related to fentanyl sales in the history of the state of California.
On June 19, 2022, Cabacungan sold a 15-year-old girl a counterfeit opiate laced with a deadly amount of fentanyl which ultimately killed her. He then fled the residence to avoid arrest. Placer County Sheriff’s deputies and detectives responded to the location where the victim had been poisoned by the fentanyl and launched an investigation along with Placer County’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU). A PCSO detective assigned to SIU took over the investigation and ultimately arrested Cabacungan on August 10th for second degree murder, selling, giving, and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor.
The investigation by our PCSO SIU detective revealed Cabacungan was a prolific fentanyl dealer who was knowingly selling counterfeit opiate pills containing lethal levels of fentanyl.
Cabacungan was using social media platforms to advertise his deadly fentanyl for sale and continued doing so following the victim’s death.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office is proud of the efforts exhibited by everyone involved in this investigation to seek justice for the family of the victim. Through our collaboration with the Placer County District Attorney’s Office, this prominent fentanyl dealer will no longer take any more innocent lives. He will be placed behind bars where he belongs.
Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo reassured the Placer County community saying, “Today, we stand united in our commitment to protect our community from the devastating grip of the fentanyl epidemic. Together with the support of the Placer County District Attorney's office, we pledge to relentlessly pursue those who sell this deadly poison on our streets. Our mission is clear: to ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens, holding fentanyl dealers accountable to the highest extent of the law. Let this be a resounding message – in the face of this epidemic, we remain vigilant and will tirelessly pursue fentanyl dealers in our commitment to save lives.”
“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,” said Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire. “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. We will continue to stand with the Wolf family to honor her memory by educating our kids of the dangers of fentanyl.”
Source & photos: Placer County Sheriff's Office
Fentanyl Dealer Convicted of Murder in Placer County for the Death of 15-Year-Old Roseville Girl
