Montebello Man Found Guilty of Distributing Fentanyl that Resulted in Victim’s Fatal Overdose at Long Beach Drug Rehabilitation Clinic

LOS ANGELES - A federal jury today found a Montebello man guilty of distributing fentanyl to a buyer who then distributed it to a victim who the next day suffered a fatal overdose of the powerful synthetic opioid at a Long Beach drug treatment facility in late 2021.

Juan Carlos Gutierrez, 33, a.k.a. "Johnny G," was found guilty of one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and serious bodily injury, a felony offense that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

According to evidence presented at an eight-day trial, Gutierrez on December 9, 2021, distributed fentanyl to co-defendant Jayleen Feusier, 36, of South Gate. Previously that night, Feusier agreed to get fentanyl for the victim, a 34-year-old man who was residing at a Long Beach drug treatment facility. In exchange for $60, Feusier agreed to get the fentanyl for the victim from Gutierrez.

Later that night, Feusier broke off approximately one gram of the fentanyl that Gutierrez provided to her, packaged it in a small plastic baggie, and placed the baggie, a lighter, and drug paraphernalia into a small box. She then placed the small box into a bag with a black t-shirt to mask the contents, ordered an Uber delivery service, and placed the item on the backseat of the vehicle to be delivered to the victim at the rehabilitation facility. Feusier then sent a link to the victim so he could track the Uber as it traveled to him.

At around 11 p.m. that night, the victim jumped a fence and retrieved the package from the Uber vehicle then went back inside the drug treatment facility. Approximately six hours later, the victim's body was discovered inside the facility's living room. Drug paraphernalia sent by Feusier was discovered nearby the victim.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office ruled that the victim's death was caused by a fentanyl overdose.

United States District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr. scheduled an October 15 sentencing hearing for Gutierrez, who has been in federal custody since May 2023.

Feusier, who has been in federal custody since February 6, pleaded guilty on March 5 to one count of distribution of fentanyl. She faces up to 20 years in federal prison at her sentencing hearing, which is expected to occur in the coming months.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Long Beach Police Department investigated this matter.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy K. Beecher and Danbee C. Kim of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.

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