Oceanside Woman Sentenced for Selling Fentanyl That Killed U.S. Marine, 29

An Oceanside woman who sold fentanyl powder that caused the overdose death of an active-duty U.S. Marine was sentenced this week to more than six years in federal prison.

Jesse Sanders, 24, pleaded guilty to meeting with the victim and selling him fentanyl in early 2022.

The Marine, a 29-year-old man whose name was not disclosed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, was found by his wife unresponsive inside his parked vehicle at Camp Pendleton.

Prosecutors allege Sanders was aware of the potentially dangerous strength of the fentanyl because she warned the victim to have naloxone on hand while using it.

Sanders was sentenced Monday to 78 months in custody.

“Fentanyl is so powerful, so toxic, so addictive, that it can snare even the toughest among us,” San Diego U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath said in a statement. “Today’s outcome cannot bring back this Marine, but it reflects the consequence for peddlers dealing this poison: prison.”

City News Service contributed to this article.