Confessed Heroin Dealer Admits Providing Drugs That Caused Death Of Two Young Metroplex Women

DALLAS — Misael Perla, a/k/a “Irving” and “Weasal25, of Dallas, pleaded guilty this morning, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma C. Ramirez, to two counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, the use of which caused the death of victims Alexandra Julia Moreno, 20, of Irving, Texas, and Cassidy Seward, 18, of Grapevine, Texas.  Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

According to the factual resume filed in the case, Perla, a confessed heroin dealer, admitted that on July 16, 2013, he knowingly distributed heroin to Moreno, a woman he had recently met at a club.  Perla provided the heroin to Moreno while she was staying with him at his mother’s home and he watched as she used the heroin in his presence.  Later that evening and into the next morning, Perla attempted to wake Moreno, and he became concerned that she may have overdosed.  He put her into the bed of a truck, drove to Baylor Medical Center at Irving and left her body with medical personnel at the emergency room.  Moreno was pronounced dead shortly after her arrival at the hospital and a subsequent autopsy report concluded that she “died as the result of the toxic effects of heroin.”

Additionally, Perla also admits in the factual resume that he knew Cassidy Seward used heroin and that she would take some heroin from a supply at his residence.  After staying with the defendant one evening, Seward overdosed on drugs taken from his home.  After her family found her unresponsive, paramedics arrived and took her to the hospital, where she was soon pronounced dead.  A subsequent autopsy report concluded that she died from the “mixed drug toxicity” of heroin and methamphetamine.

On each count of conviction, Perla faces a statutory penalty of at least 20 years and up to life in prison and a $5 million fine.  A sentencing date was not set.

The investigation was led by the Irving Police Department and the Grapevine Police Department, with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Schall is in charge of the prosecution.