A Millcreek man faces a federal charge of distributing fentanyl that allegedly killed another person.
Christopher Lee Washington, 53, is one of five Salt Lake County residents named in a 15-count indictment unsealed Monday, Nov. 9, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah. Washington faces the most serious allegation in the case: that he intentionally distributed fentanyl on June 23 that resulted in a person's death.
That charge is in addition to the three conspiracy counts all five defendants share. Officials have not identified the person who died.
A federal grand jury returned the indictment on Oct. 21. The four co-defendants are Natasha Annette Ashworth, 39, of Salt Lake City; Keisha Brewer-Case, 23, of West Valley City; Brittany Cuevas Caldwell, 38, of Salt Lake City; and Keith Jerome Lewis, 59, of Salt Lake City.
All five are charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute cocaine, according to court documents. The indictment alleges the conspiracy ran from no later than April 29 through at least Aug. 27 in Utah and elsewhere. The alleged quantities were at least 400 grams of a substance containing fentanyl, at least 500 grams of a mixture containing methamphetamine, and cocaine.
Agents executing a search warrant at Ashworth's residence on Aug. 27 recovered approximately 19 pounds of methamphetamine, a brick of cocaine weighing approximately one kilogram and approximately 21 grams of fentanyl powder, according to court documents.
U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak announced the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vernon G. Stejskal is prosecuting it.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Salt Lake City Police Department and Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake investigated the case jointly. The prosecution falls under the federal Homeland Security Task Force initiative.
Initial court appearances have occurred or are scheduled throughout November before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daphne A. Oberg at the federal courthouse in Salt Lake City.
An indictment is an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Anyone who witnesses a possible overdose should call 911 and administer naloxone if available, according to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.
