Bay Area Woman Faces Federal Charges For Distributing Fentanyl

OAKLAND – Jianna Coppedge appeared today in United States District Court to face a federal charge that she distributed fentanyl in the form of counterfeit “M30” pills, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Brian Clark. Coppedge made her initial appearance today in United States District Court in Oakland before United States Magistrate Kandis A. Westmore.

The basis for the charge was set out in a criminal complaint filed April 4, 2023, and unsealed in federal court today. The criminal complaint describes a transaction in which Coppedge, 19, of Alameda County, arranged the sale of, and then sold, “M30” pills containing fentanyl. The individual to whom the drugs were sold subsequently died of an overdose. 

The complaint charges Coppedge with distribution of fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C). The statutory maximum for the charge is a maximum 20 years’ imprisonment, a maximum fine of $1,000,000 a maximum lifetime of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by a court only after considerations of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statue governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. 

The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only allegations. As in any criminal case, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Chambers of the Oakland Branch of the United States Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Leeya Kekona and Lance Macaraeg. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by DEA and the Dublin Police Department. 

One Pill Can Kill: Beware of pills bought on the street: One Pill Can Kill. Fentanyl, a Schedule I controlled substance, is a highly potent opiate that can be diluted with cutting agents to create counterfeit pills that purport to mimic the effects of Oxycodone, Percocet, and other drugs, but can be obtained at a lower cost. However, very small variations in the amount or quality of fentanyl create huge effects on the potency of the counterfeit pills and can easily cause death. Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills are usually shaped and colored to resemble pills that are sold legitimately at pharmacies.