San Gabriel Woman Linked to Spate of Drug Overdoses in Pasadena Charged with Federal Narcotics Trafficking Offense

         LOS ANGELES – Prosecutors today filed a criminal complaint against a San Gabriel woman who allegedly sold narcotics to several individuals in Pasadena who suffered overdoses on September 11.

         Marisol Bolanos Hernandez, 35, was charged today with one count of drug distribution resulting in serious bodily injury.

         Bolanos allegedly sold narcotics to a man who, along with a friend, was found unresponsive at a Pasadena location on the evening of September 11. The two victims were transported to local hospitals, where one recovered, but another died two days later. Pasadena Police officers seized white powder residue from the location of the overdoses, but that material has yet to be tested, according to the affidavit in support of the complaint.

         At the hospital, the surviving victim, identified as A.C., responded to Narcan, indicating there were opioids present, and his urine samples were positive for cocaine. A.C. was released from the hospital the following day and told Pasadena Police that he purchased cocaine from “Mari,” shared some of the drugs with the deceased victim, and lost consciousness after taking the purported cocaine, according to the affidavit. Investigators have determined that Mari is Bolanos through evidence that includes A.C. identifying her out of a six-photo lineup, the affidavit states.

         The narcotics distribution charge in the complaint relates to the drugs allegedly sold to A.C.

         The affidavit also alleges that Bolanos sold purported cocaine to two other overdose victims on September 11. Both of these victims required hospitalization and survived. Phone records link Bolaros to another fatal overdose on September 11, according to the affidavit.

         Pasadena Police detained Bolanos on September 16. During an interview she admitting selling what she believed to be cocaine to three of the overdose victims, including A.C., on September 11, according to the affidavit.

         Bolanos was taken into federal custody on Thursday by special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration. She is expected to make her initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

         A criminal complaint 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 serious bodily injury carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

         The case against Bolanos is the result of an ongoing investigation by the DEA and the Pasadena Police Department.

         This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittney M. Harris of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section.