By Redaccion
redaccion@latinocc.com
Ventura County prosecutors announced that Charity Faith Wiley, 39, a resident of Reseda, faces a second-degree murder charge for the death of a Simi Valley man due to a fentanyl overdose.
Wiley is accused of selling a lethal synthetic mixture of fentanyl and xylazine to the victim, who fatally overdosed. In addition to the murder charge, she faces 17 other felony counts related to drug possession and sales, as well as the transfer of a firearm. Prosecutors have also filed special allegations, arguing that the crime involved a large quantity of contraband and that the victim was in a vulnerable situation.
A Months-Long Investigation
On June 6, 2024, authorities from the Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Unit (VC FOCUS) responded to a residence in Simi Valley following a report of an overdose. Investigators found drugs and paraphernalia in the victim’s room.
Toxicology tests confirmed the presence of a lethal amount of fentanyl and xylazine in the deceased’s system. Based on collected evidence, authorities identified Charity Wiley as the suspected drug supplier.
After months of investigation, Wiley was arrested on March 5, 2025, at her residence in Los Angeles County by VC FOCUS officers and the Simi Valley Police Department.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
Wiley made her first court appearance on Thursday, but her arraignment was postponed until March 13, 2025. The hearing will take place in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court at 9:00 a.m.
For now, the defendant remains in custody with bail set at $750,000. The case is being prosecuted by Audry Nafziger, a member of the Major Crimes Narcotics Unit of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
The Impact of Fentanyl on the Community
Fentanyl is a highly addictive and deadly synthetic opioid, estimated to be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. In recent years, it has been one of the leading causes of overdose deaths in the United States.
In 2024, the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office reported 200 overdose deaths, 113 of which were fentanyl-related. In response to this crisis, prosecutors have reiterated their commitment to aggressively prosecuting those who sell, supply, or distribute the drug.
Authorities urge the public to educate themselves about the dangers of fentanyl and seek resources for individuals struggling with addiction. Information on overdose rescue kits is also available at ThinkAgainVC.com
