Antelope Valley felon indicted for fentanyl distribution leading to four deaths

LOS ANGELES, California — A 46-year-old man from Palmdale has been arrested following a federal grand jury indictment accusing him of distributing fentanyl that resulted in the overdose deaths of four individuals last year. Damian Michael Evans, a 10-time convicted felon, is scheduled for arraignment in United States District Court in Los Angeles.

Evans faces multiple charges, including one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute MDMA, and firearm-related offenses, according to the Justice Department. The indictment alleges that Evans distributed fentanyl on January 15, 2024, leading to the fatalities in Palmdale.

The charges also include illegal possession of a revolver and ammunition, which Evans is prohibited from having due to his criminal history of 10 felonies, primarily drug-related, dating from 1997 to 2016 in Los Angeles Superior Court. If convicted, Evans could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years and a maximum of life imprisonment.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the case, which is part of the DEA’s Overdose Justice Program and LASD’s Overdose Response Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Brittney M. Harris is prosecuting the case. An indictment is an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.