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Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
Fentanyl Overdose Results in Homicide Arrest
| Nature of Incident | Fentanyl Overdose Results in Homicide Arrest | ||||
| Report Number: | 25- 27458 | ||||
| Location: | 19500 block of Vose Street- Reseda |
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| Date & Time: | March 5, 2025 @ 6:00 AM |
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| Unit(s) Responsible: | Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VC FOCUS), Simi Valley Police Department Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Ventura County Gun Violence Reduction Program Unit (GVRP), Ventura County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau |
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| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
Age | |||
| (S) Charity Wiley (V) Male Adult |
Reseda Simi Valley |
39 28 |
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| Narrative: | |||||
| On March 5, 2025, the Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VC FOCUS) and the Simi Valley Police Department Special Investigations Unit (SIU) concluded a joint narcotics sales and fatal overdose investigation with the arrest of Charity Wiley for Second Degree Murder as well as other narcotics and firearms related charges. On June 6, 2024, deputies from the Sheriff’s Moorpark patrol station responded to a report of a male subject suffering from a drug overdose at a residence in the unincorporated area of Simi Valley. Ventura County Fire Department personnel and EMS responders were on scene and pronounced the victim deceased. Detectives from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Major Crimes and Narcotics Bureaus also responded and seized drug paraphernalia and other evidence at the scene. An examination by the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death as fentanyl and xylazine intoxication. VC FOCUS detectives took over the investigation and identified Charity Wiley as the suspect who sold fentanyl to the victim causing his death. At that time, VC FOCUS detectives discovered that SVPD SIU had investigated Wiley in November of 2022 and had successfully concluded their investigation with her arrest for narcotics sales, firearms charges and conspiracy. During their investigation, SVPD SIU detectives served search warrants at multiple residences and storage units in Los Angeles County where they seized 1.25 kilograms of fentanyl, 1 kilogram of cocaine, 1 pound of methamphetamine, 49 grams of heroin, several thousand pharmaceutical pills, 3 handguns, ammunition and nearly $100,000 in US Currency believed to be proceeds from illegal narcotics sales. VC FOCUS detectives also learned that SVPD SIU detectives had initiated a new investigation into Wiley based on information she had resumed her narcotics sales activities. VC FOCUS and SVPD SIU began a collaborative investigation into their independent agency cases. In December 2024, SVPD SIU detectives served a second search warrant on Wiley’s residence where she was contacted and arrested again for narcotics sales, forgery and conspiracy. Detectives seized a semi-automatic shotgun, ammunition, body armor, pharmaceutical pills, scales, packaging materials and numerous items related to fraud, identity theft and ID manufacturing. After several months of physical surveillance and other investigative methods, VC FOCUS presented its fatal overdose case to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office for review. After careful consideration, prosecutors agreed to file homicide charges against Wiley and secured a warrant for her arrest. Since its inception, VC FOCUS investigators have collaborated closely with prosecutors to hold drug dealers accountable for fatal fentanyl overdoses. This proactive approach often involves pursuing second-degree murder charges, based on the principle that distributing such a deadly substance exhibits a reckless disregard for human life. On March 5, 2025, VC FOCUS along with SVPD SIU and detectives from the Gun Violence Reduction Program served the arrest warrant at a residence in the 19500 block of Vose St. in Reseda. Wiley was detained along with four other individuals including Kevin Coates and Andrew Vigiletti who were wanted for drug sales in connection with the previous SVPD SIU narcotics investigations. During a subsequent search of the residence, detectives seized fentanyl, methamphetamine, scales, packaging materials and US Currency derived from narcotics sales. Wiley was arrested on the active arrest warrant for second degree murder, sales of a controlled substance and sales of a dangerous drug. Additional felony arrest charges stemming from the SVPD investigation include possession of a controlled substance while armed, unlawful transfer of a firearm and conspiracy. She was booked into custody at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility where she remains on $750,000 bail. Her arraignment is set for March 6, 2025 in Ventura County Superior Court. Coates and Vigilitti were arrested on felony charges for sales of a controlled substance and conspiracy. Both subjects also remain in custody on $100,000 bail. VC FOCUS is a task force made up of Ventura County regional law enforcement agencies including the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Simi Valley Police Department, Oxnard Police Department, Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, California Highway Patrol, as well as federal law enforcement partners. The primary mission of this partnership is to combat fentanyl related crimes and opioid overdoses by targeting the supply chain of individuals and criminal organizations responsible for the sales of these drugs into Ventura County. In addition, the task force works to identify new trends of abuse among the younger population and educate the community at large on the lethal danger of this epidemic. VC FOCUS has partnered with Ventura County Behavioral Health as an active member of the County Overdose Awareness & Solutions Team (COAST) in a campaign to reduce overdoses and educate the public about the dangers of opioids and other drugs. Comprehensive information can be found at www.ThinkAgainVC.com and www.dea.gov/onepill . The public may contact investigators from the VC FOCUS at (805) 383-8700 or VCFOCUS@ventura.org with additional information about this case, or any other information related to narcotics. |
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| Prepared by: | Sergeant John Hajducko | ||||
| News Release Date: | March 6, 2025 | ||||
| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Sergeant John Hajducko 805-755-8181 |
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| Approved by: | Captain Ron Chips | ||||
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511