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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).
Media Release: Fatal Overdose Investigation Leads to Federal Indictment and Arrest
| Nature of Incident: | Fatal Overdose Investigation Leads to Federal Indictment and Arrest | ||||
| Report Number: | 21-33557 (SVPD) | ||||
| Location: | 3200 Block of Amarillo Ave, Simi Valley, Ca | ||||
| Date & Time: | April 16, 2025 |
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| Unit(s) Responsible: | Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VCFOCUS) Simi Valley Police Department (SVPD) Ventura County District Attorney’s Office (VCDA) United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) United States Attorney’s Office- Los Angeles (USAO) |
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| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
Age | |||
| (D) Adult Female (S) Michael McDevitt |
Thousand Oaks, Ca Simi Valley, Ca |
32 43 |
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| Narrative: | |||||
| On April 11, 2025, the Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VC FOCUS) concluded a multi-year investigation into a fatal overdose that occurred in the city of Simi Valley. The investigation led to the arrest and federal indictment of 43-year-old Simi Valley resident, Michael McDevitt. In September 2021, Michael McDevitt and an associate brought a lifeless female to Ventura County Fire Department Station 46 in the city of Simi Valley. Upon arrival, VCFD attempted life-saving measures that were ultimately unsuccessful. Simi Valley Police Department responded to the scene and began an investigation. SVPD Narcotics Detectives were called to the scene and took control of the investigation and served a search warrant at McDevitt’s residence. The search of the residence located fentanyl, which helped establish the connection of the female using fentanyl at McDevitt’s residence prior to being brought to the fire station. The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy of the victim, which determined her cause of death was due to acute fentanyl intoxication. VC FOCUS detectives assumed and oversaw the case when the unit was conceived in January 2023. Over the next year, detectives evaluated evidence, conducted interviews with potential witnesses, uncovered social media and digital evidence and conducted covert surveillance. Detectives were able to build a case for an arrest. The investigation showed that McDevitt supplied the fentanyl that ultimately led to the victim’s death. On September 11, 2024, VC FOCUS detectives detained McDevitt, and members of the Simi Valley Special Enforcement Team served a search warrant at McDevitt’s residence, where drugs were recovered. At that time the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office charged McDevitt with 192(b)PC - Manslaughter. McDevitt was released on bail at this time. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office continued to review the case with detectives from VC FOCUS. After careful consideration, the two approached agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and presented the case to gauge interest for a potential filing of Title 21 USC 841 (a)(1),(b)(1)(C) - Distribution of a Controlled Substance resulting in Great Bodily Injury or Death. DEA Agents examined the case and, along with the VCDA they presented it to the United States Attorney’s Office for review. On February 4, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office secured an Indictment and federal arrest warrant for McDevitt. The United States Attorney’s Office then indicted McDevitt for violation of Title 21 USC Section 841(a)(1),(b)(1)(C) - Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death. The Ventura District Attorney’s Office dismissed the state case against McDevitt. On April 11, 2025, at approximately 1550 hours, VC FOCUS -Detectives and Agents from the DEA-Ventura Resident Office arrested McDevitt. He was later booked into federal custody in the Federal Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles. Due to federal sentencing guidelines, McDevitt faces a minimum of 20 years in federal prison if convicted. McDevitt remains in federal custody without 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 narcotics-related information. |
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| Prepared by: | Detective Frank Mika | ||||
| News Release Date: | April 15, 2025 | ||||
| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Detective Frank Mika 805-583-6950 |
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| Approved by: | Captain Matt Young | ||||
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