HONOLULU — A Maui man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for trafficking counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl that led to the overdose death of a 24-year-old man. U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway handed down the 144-month sentence to 34-year-old Jose Elias Camacho, who pleaded guilty in June 2024 to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.
Fatal Transactions
According to court documents, in August 2020, Camacho sold five counterfeit oxycodone pills to the victim, who overdosed shortly after ingesting them. First responders revived the victim, who was hospitalized but discharged himself the same day. Despite knowing about the overdose, Camacho sold the victim another batch of pills. The following morning, the victim was found dead at his home.
An autopsy revealed a polydrug overdose, with a medical toxicologist concluding that the victim would not have died but for the fentanyl in the pills Camacho provided.
Continued Trafficking
Even after the victim’s death, Camacho continued distributing fentanyl-laced pills. In October 2020, Maui Police Department officers arrested him during an undercover operation. A search of his home uncovered approximately 400 counterfeit pills marked “M 30” that resembled prescription oxycodone but tested positive for fentanyl.
The Broader Epidemic
Camacho’s case underscores the growing threat of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid identified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as the leading cause of drug poisoning deaths in the United States. According to the DEA’s 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment, seven in ten counterfeit pills contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, were linked to 73,838 of the 107,941 overdose deaths recorded nationwide in 2022.
Prosecutor’s Statement
“Camacho knew the deadly risk of selling illegal narcotics, and in particular, he knew the heightened risk associated with the tragic death in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors. “Even after learning of the victim’s death, Camacho continued to sell a large quantity of the lethal pills, endangering a great number of lives. This sentence sends a powerful message that dealers whose products contain lethal doses of illegal narcotics, including fentanyl, will face severe consequences.”
Investigation and Prosecution
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maui Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mohammad Khatib and Michael Albanese.
Community Impact
Fentanyl continues to devastate communities across the nation, with counterfeit pills posing a particularly insidious danger to users often unaware of the drug’s presence. Federal authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspected drug activity to local law enforcement.
For resources and information on the dangers of fentanyl, visit the DEA’s website at www.dea.gov.
