A Maricopa County grand jury has indicted a Tempe man accused of selling fentanyl pills that led to another man’s death, prosecutors announced this week.
County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said 28-year-old Freddie Avila faces multiple felony charges, including manslaughter and violating Arizona’s “Sale of Lethal Fentanyl” law. The statute, enacted in recent years to address the growing opioid crisis, makes it a Class 2 felony to knowingly sell fentanyl that causes a user’s death. Avila is only the second defendant charged under the law.
The case stems from a March incident at a Tempe car wash, where employees discovered 34-year-old Chris Joseph dead inside his parked vehicle. Investigators said more than 500 fentanyl pills were found in the car’s cupholder. The medical examiner later ruled his death a result of fentanyl poisoning.
Along with the lethal fentanyl charge, Avila is accused of manslaughter and sale or transportation of narcotic drugs, all Class 2 felonies. He is currently being held on a $250,000 secured bond, requiring at least 10% to be posted for release.
Mitchell said her office will continue pursuing cases against dealers linked to fatal overdoses. “This law was designed to hold accountable those who profit from poison,” she said in announcing the indictment.
Authorities have emphasized that fentanyl remains the leading driver of overdose deaths in Maricopa County, where law enforcement has stepped up both prosecutions and community education efforts.
