HSI assists in investigation that leads to guilty plea in fatal overdose of San Diego resident

SAN DIEGO — A local drug dealer pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to the selling of fentanyl that caused the fatal overdose of a San Diego resident. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego assisted in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-led investigation.

Saul Caro, 33, and the victim – identified on court records as M.S. – exchanged text messages on April 11, 2021, to coordinate the sale of counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl, according to the plea agreement. Caro delivered the pills to M.S.’s residence.

M.S. died in his apartment the evening of April 11, 2021. Caro admitted that the pills he gave to M.S. caused his death. When a search warrant was executed at Caro’s residence, a loaded, unregistered, semi-automatic privately manufactured firearm with no serial number, or “ghost gun”, was located along with other drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Prior to this meeting, Caro had sold the counterfeit oxycodone pills to M.S., and the victim had told Caro that some of the pills had caused him severe unintended effects.

U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman thanked the prosecution team and agents from the DEA and HSI for their excellent work to achieve justice in this case.

“Drug dealers are playing with fire when they sell illicit drugs because deadly fentanyl is everywhere. Dealers beware: counterfeit pills or powder you sell will inevitably be laced with fentanyl. If you provide fatal pills or powders, you will be held responsible for the victim’s death,” he said.

“Deaths caused by fentanyl continue to rise in San Diego County as cartels and drug dealers, such as Saul Caro, drive addiction,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Shelly S. Howe. “In response, DEA has increased the number of investigators on our Overdose Response Team, making us laser focused on pursuing dealers who distribute deadly fentanyl.”

Caro is scheduled to be sentenced at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 19, before U.S. District Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel.

This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, and the DEA to investigate and prosecute the distribution of dangerous illegal drugs – fentanyl in particular – that result in overdose deaths. The DEA created Narcotics Task Force Team 10 as a response to the increase in overdose deaths in San Diego County. Agents from Team 10 contributed to the investigation into M.S.’s death.

HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 special agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States, and 80 overseas locations in 53 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.