A San Diego man who sold fentanyl pills to a woman, which led to her fatal overdose, was sentenced in San Diego federal court Monday to more than eight years in prison.
Derek Neal Turfler, 29, pleaded guilty to selling pills to 27-year-old Faithe Sioban Thogode, who fatally overdosed on May 9, 2022.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Turfler knew the victim was going through a relapse following five years of sobriety. Prosecutors say Turfler was himself an addict and thus knew the dangers of fentanyl, yet still sold Thogode the pills.
At the time of Thogode’s death, Turfler was on probation for driving under the influence of fentanyl causing great bodily harm. The U.S. Attorney’s Office cited that conviction in saying that Thogode’s death was “not the first time the defendant had seriously hurt someone due to fentanyl.”
San Diego U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath said in a statement, “Faithe Thogode is not a statistic. She was a loving daughter and a devoted friend to dozens of people who appeared in court today to show their lasting appreciation for her infectious laugh and kind heart.”
