Feds blame alleged California drug dealer for two fentanyl overdose deaths

Edward Telles-Solis, 24, faces drug distribution charges in an investigation tied to the overdose death of a 15-year-old.

SAN JOSE — In court records, prosecutors say they’ve linked an alleged Monterey-area drug dealer to two fatal overdoses, including one of a 15-year-old high school student, court records show.

Edward Telles-Solis, 24, is in Santa Rita Jail in Dublin facing federal charges of advertising a controlled substance on the internet, which carries up to four years in prison. But in a successful detention motion, prosecutors say they have evidence Telles-Solis supplied a number of people, including teenagers, with a range of drugs that include the deadly synthetic opiate fentanyl.

The investigation appears to be tied to the prosecution of three Monterey teens who prosecutors allege played different roles in supplying fentanyl to a 15-year-old Pacific Grove boy who overdosed on March 5. The boy, known in court records only by the initials “AK,” allegedly inhaled a pulverized fentanyl pill.

Telles-Solis was identified as a suspect through a search of AK’s phone, which had communicated with a Snapchat account tied to Telles-Solis, prosecutors say. On the account, Telles-Solis allegedly advertised a “menu” of drugs that prosecutors wrote included “M30 pills (fentanyl) and other counterfeit pills, Xanax, ecstasy (“molly”), LSD, marijuana, etc.”

The detention motion also alleges that Telles-Solis was linked to two other overdoses, including an additional fatal overdose, but provide no additional information about those incidents.

Telles-Solis has pleaded not guilty and is next due in court on July 13, records show. He remains in custody on a no-bail hold.