By Redaccion
[email protected]
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Jason Quinn (DOB 09/22/75), of Ventura, was sentenced on March 20, 2024, to 5 years 8 months felony jail. The court imposed 613 days of that time in custody and the remainder will be served on mandatory supervision. Quinn was previously convicted by a jury on December 26, 2023, of felony possession of fentanyl for sale and felony possession of methamphetamine for sale. The jury also found Quinn guilty of driving on a suspended or revoked license. The court found the special allegation that he was on probation when the crime was committed to be true.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Ethel Hernandez, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Narcotics Unit, prosecuted the case.
“Mr. Quinn is a serial drug offender who has continued to put the lives of Ventura County residents at risk by selling fentanyl,” Ms. Hernandez said. “His actions while on probation for selling drugs, highlight his reckless criminal behavior.”
On May 2, 2023, Ventura Police Department officers, as part of the Ventura County Fentanyl Overdose and Crimes Units (VC FOCUS), conducted a traffic stop on Quinn for a suspended license and outstanding warrant. A police K9 alerted officers to narcotics in the vehicle. Quinn, who was already on probation, was transported to his residence for a probation search. Detectives located two, half-ounce bindles of fentanyl, six grams of methamphetamine, 47 grams of methamphetamine with THC, and drug sales paraphernalia such as a large scale and packaging materials. Text messages regarding drug sales were on his phone, along with a large amount of cash in his wallet.
Quinn was on probation and awaiting sentencing for a 2021 case where he pled guilty on March 15, 2023, to one count of possessing fentanyl for sale and was given the Dangerous Drug Advisement. The advisement warns convicted defendants of the dangers of fentanyl and informs them they could be charged with murder if they sell drugs laced with fentanyl to someone, and that person dies as a result of ingesting it.
Fentanyl is a highly addictive and often deadly synthetic drug. It is estimated to be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl is one of the most common drugs associated with overdose deaths in the United States.
In 2023, the Ventura County Medical Examiner reported 265 overdose deaths. Fentanyl was found in the system of 178 of the overdose victims. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office will seek to aggressively prosecute those that sell, furnish, or distribute fentanyl.
The public is urged to learn more about the dangers of fentanyl, how to find resources for people struggling with addiction, and where to get overdose rescue kits. This information can be found at https://www.vcdistrictattorney.com/crimes/fentanyl-dangers/.
Case: 2023010736
Defendant Information:
Jason Quinn (DOB 09/22/75)
Ventura
Convicted of:
- HS 11351 – Possession for sale of a controlled substance (fentanyl)
- HS 11378 – Possession for sale of a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
- VC 14501.1(a) – Driving with privilege suspended or revoked
Special Allegations
- CRC 4.421(b)(4) – Defendant was on probation at the time the crime was committed
