Redondo Beach Man Charged with Firearms and Narcotics Trafficking Offenses, One Alleging Fentanyl Sale that Resulted in Fatal Overdose

          LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury indictment unsealed today charges a Redondo Beach man who allegedly sold counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl that caused a fatal opioid overdose.

          Marcus Michael Takaya Poydras, 32, a dual U.S. and Japanese citizen, was arrested September 9 by agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration. The following day, a United States magistrate judge ordered Poydras held without bond pending trial, which is currently set for November 2.

          The five-count indictment that led to Poydras’ arrest charges him with one count of distributing fentanyl resulting in death, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and two counts of possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. The five charges relate to three incidents.

          In the first incident, Poydras allegedly sold to another drug dealer counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. After the January 22, 2020, transaction, the second drug dealer distributed the counterfeit pills to a 43-year-old victim who later suffered a fatal fentanyl overdose at his Marina del Rey residence.

          As part of the investigation into the overdose death, DEA agents and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department executed a federal search warrant at Poydras’ residence on July 14, 2020, and, according to the indictment, seized cocaine and a .38-caliber revolver with an obliterated serial number.

          In the third incident alleged in the indictment, Redondo Beach Police officers arrested Poydras on January 17, 2021, and recovered several suspected controlled substances, including counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. At the time, Poydras was allegedly carrying a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun.

          An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

          The charge of drug distribution resulting in death carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.  Additionally, each firearm charge carries a consecutive mandatory minimum sentence of five years apiece. Thus, if convicted, Poydras would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in federal prison.

          The DEA, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the Redondo Beach Police Department are investigating this matter.

          Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Castañeda of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section is prosecuting this case.

          This case is the result of an investigation by the DEA’s Overdose Justice Task Force, which was created to address opioid-related deaths in the greater Los Angeles area, most of which are caused the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Under the Overdose Justice program for the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division, DEA agents collaborate with local law enforcement to analyze evidence to determine if there are circumstances that might lead to a federal criminal prosecution, and, if so, proactively target the drug trafficker.