Murder conviction for woman who sold pills to victim is first in Fresno County, DA says
The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office called the sentencing Friday of a woman who supplied fentanyl to another who overdosed a first-of-its-kind murder case for the county.
Cassidy Gonzalez, 25, was sentenced to 15 years to life for second-degree murder after the 2022 overdose death of 41-year-old Jade Dreith. Gonzalez was ordered to serve the time at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla.
She was also convicted March 26 by a jury for a separate felony for narcotics sales for which she was sentenced another four years and four months, according to prosecutors.
During the trial, a jury heard Gonzalez sold counterfeit fentanyl in pill form known as “blue M-30s,” prosecutors said. Because of her age, Gonzalez will be eligible for Youthful Offender Parole after a portion of her sentence has been served.
“This sentence reflects the seriousness of the actions and the devastating and deadly consequences of distributing fentanyl,” District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp said in a news release. “Fentanyl continues to claim lives in our community, and when someone knowingly sells this poison and a life lost, we will pursue maximum accountability under the law.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is also a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the U.S.
Local and federal law enforcement agencies in the central San Joaquin Valley have signaled their vigilance in trying to catch suspected drug traffickers. The Valley, like the rest of the nation, has seen an increase in the number of overdoses and deaths related to fentanyl.
Although this case was a first for Fresno County, several other counties, including Riverside, Placer and San Bernardino, have previously filed murder charges in fentanyl-related death cases.
This story was originally published January 30, 2026 at 3:52 PM.
