A Palmdale man already facing a charge of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death now faces an additional federal count linked to a second fatality occurring months later, officials announced Thursday.
Christopher Morales, 22, was named in an updated indictment returned Wednesday in Los Angeles federal court that adds the new narcotics distribution count. Morales was initially charged in October in relation to the first death. He is expected to be arraigned on the superseding indictment in the coming weeks, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Morales previously was charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in a death and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The superseding indictment charges him with an additional count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
According to the indictment, the second victim died of fentanyl poisoning in August at his family’s home shortly after allegedly purchasing the drug from Morales.
Morales was arrested in the first case in September on charges related to a victim who died in March in Palmdale.
During the investigation of the first incident, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department conducted a search of Morales’ home in April, which led to the discovery of 4.3 grams of fentanyl and text messages between Morales and the first victim indicating the purchase of fentanyl, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
More pills recovered and tested after the September arrest were determined to contain about an ounce of fentanyl, prosecutors allege.
If convicted, Morales faces a mandatory 20-year prison sentence for each of the two distribution causing death counts.