Tenderloin Dealer Who Sold Fentanyl That Killed One And Injured Another Sentenced To Six Years In Prison

SAN FRANCISCO – Celin David Doblado-Canaca was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison for selling fentanyl, including fentanyl that caused the death of one victim and injured another, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. James Donato, United States District Judge. 

Doblado-Canaca, 40, of San Francisco, pleaded guilty, without a written agreement, on April 4, 2023, to the charge of distributing fentanyl. In pleading guilty, Doblado-Canaca admitted he sold drugs in the San Francisco’s Tenderloin District. On May 18, 2020, Doblado-Canaca sold drugs to a buyer that he had sold to before. He later learned that the buyer then provided the drugs to two other individuals in San Bruno, Calif., referred to in court documents as Victim 1 and Victim 2. Both Victim 1 and Victim 2 snorted the drugs, believing they were taking cocaine, when in fact they ingested fentanyl. Both Victim 1 and Victim 2 overdosed; Victim 1 died, and Victim 2 survived the ordeal. 

Court documents demonstrate Doblado-Canaca was arrested after he continued to sell drugs in the Tenderloin. Specifically, on May 20, 2020, the same buyer Doblado-Canaca sold to on May 18 called him to set up another buy, this one on Hyde Street in the Tenderloin. In the early evening, Doblado-Canaca met the buyer and another person, who was an undercover police officer. Doblado-Canaca sold three baggies of what he knew was fentanyl and was arrested shortly thereafter. At the time of his arrest, Doblado-Canaca possessed eight more baggies of fentanyl and 13 baggies of heroin, respectively. 

On October 28, 2021, Doblado-Canaca was charged by Information with one count of distributing fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). Doblado-Canaca pleaded guilty to the charge. 

In addition to the six year prison term, U.S. District Judge Donato ordered Doblado-Canaca to serve three years of supervision following release from federal prison, and to pay restitution. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Weingarten prosecuted the case with the assistance of Linda Love and Margoth Turcios. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by DEA and the San Bruno Police Department.

One Pill Can Kill: Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that drug dealers dilute with cutting agents to make counterfeit prescription pills that appear to be Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs. Fentanyl is used because it’s cheap. Small variations in the quantity or quality of fentanyl in a fake prescription pill can accidentally create a lethal dosage. Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of drug poisoning deaths in the United States. Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies, like Percocet and Xanax. For example, fake prescription pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These particular pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors. They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill. Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they are routinely fake and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late.