Sherman Oaks Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl that Resulted in the Deaths of Two People

          LOS ANGELES – A San Fernando Valley man was sentenced today to 240 months in federal prison for distributing the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl that resulted in the overdose deaths of two people in July 2018.

          Trent Michael Tomasovich, 31, of Sherman Oaks, was sentenced by United States District Judge John F. Walter.

          Tomasovich pleaded guilty in September 2019 to one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.

          According to court documents, on July 13, 2018, Tomasovich sold fentanyl to a 24-year-old woman who took the drug at a Woodland Hills apartment and died during the early morning hours the following day. The victim was visiting a friend, who found the woman unresponsive and then summoned paramedics.

          Several hours later, the boyfriend of the woman who lived in the Woodland Hills apartment found the narcotics that the deceased woman had purchased. Ignoring his girlfriend’s request to dispose of the drugs, the 38-year-old man consumed the fentanyl and suffered a fatal overdose.

          In his plea agreement, Tomasovich admitted that but for the use of the fentanyl that he distributed, the two victims would have lived.

          “In this case, [Tomasovich’s] conduct led to two peoples’ deaths and caused permanent, irreparable damage to the loved ones they left behind,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum.

          The investigation into Tomasovich was conducted by the HIDTA Fusion Task Force, which is part of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force and operates under the direction of the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Los Angeles Police Department (Van Nuys Homicide), the Glendale Police Department and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office provided substantial assistance in this matter.

          Assistant United States Attorneys A. Carley Palmer of the General Crimes Section and Elia Herrera of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section prosecuted this case.