VENTURA, Calif. — In a historic legal outcome for Southern California law enforcement, a Reseda woman was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison Tuesday for second-degree murder following a fatal drug overdose in unincorporated Simi Valley, public safety officials announced.
The landmark sentencing was announced by Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko inside courtroom 14 of the Ventura County Superior Court.
The defendant, identified as 40-year-old Charity Faith Wiley (born September 21, 1985) of Reseda, pled guilty on July 6, 2026, to second-degree murder alongside five additional felony counts related to large-scale drug trafficking, illegal firearm possession, and money laundering.
Overdose Investigation and Identification of "Tranq-Dope" Supply
The criminal case originated on June 6, 2024, when detectives with the Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VC FOCUS) responded to a residential address in unincorporated Simi Valley following reports of an apparent fatal overdose.
Investigators located the victim, identified as Devin Kastler, deceased inside his bedroom alongside narcotics and drug paraphernalia. Subsequent toxicology analysis conducted by the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office revealed lethal concentrations of fentanyl and xylazine, a dangerous animal tranquilizer commonly referred to on the street as "tranq" or "tranq-dope," in Kastler's system.
Detectives from VC FOCUS initiated an intensive narcotics trafficking inquiry under case number 2025004926 to trace the supply chain. Through digital forensics, cell phone records, and surveillance, investigators identified Charity Wiley as the primary source of the lethal narcotics.
On March 5, 2025, VC FOCUS detectives, supported by officers from the Simi Valley Police Department (SVPD), executed search warrants at Wiley's residence in Reseda as well as a separate apartment unit in Los Angeles County utilized as a stash house for her narcotics sales operation.
Massive Narcotics Seizure, Sophisticated Operation, and Text Warnings
During the search warrant executions across Wiley's properties and secondary storage units, SVPD and VC FOCUS investigators uncovered an exceptionally sophisticated commercial drug distribution network. Law enforcement seized:
- Fentanyl: More than 3 pounds of bulk fentanyl and pre-packaged quantities
- Methamphetamine: 1.5 pounds of bulk methamphetamine
- Counterfeit Pills: 2.6 pounds of counterfeit Xanax pills suspected to contain fentanyl
- Additional Narcotics: Commercial quantities of cocaine and heroin
- Cash & Weapons: Over $96,000 in illicit cash and three handguns, including two loaded firearms in Wiley's bedroom, one of which was taken as payment for drugs
- Sales Evidence: A written drug sales business plan, hundreds of pay-owe sheets, a mechanical money counter, stolen driver's licenses, and packaging materials
Crucially, investigators recovered digital communication data from Wiley's mobile phone that established explicit criminal intent and knowledge of the fatal dangers associated with her product.
Text messages revealed that an associate had specifically warned Wiley that he refused to distribute "tranq-dope" because it was causing human deaths. The associate explicitly warned Wiley not to sell the lethal mixture to Devin Kastler because he only "dabbled" in drug use. Wiley acknowledged the warning in writing, agreeing that casual users should not receive the substance. However, just five days later on June 5, 2024, Wiley directly sold the "tranq-dope" mixture to Kastler, causing his death hours later.
"This is the first fentanyl murder conviction in Ventura County, marking an important step in holding drug dealers accountable when their actions result in the loss of life," stated District Attorney Erik Nasarenko following the court proceeding.
"After more than 30 years as a prosecutor, I have rarely encountered someone as organized and sophisticated as Wiley, coupled with such a disregard for human life," stated Senior Deputy District Attorney Audry Nafziger, who prosecuted the case alongside Deputy District Attorney Devin Mirchi of the Major Crimes Narcotics Unit. "She was warned that the drugs were killing people and agreed not to sell to Devin. She did it anyway."
Emotional Victim Impact Statements and Legal Precedent
During Tuesday's emotional sentencing hearing, Devin Kastler's mother, father, aunt, and close friend delivered powerful victim impact statements describing the agonizing hole left in their family.
"When my child Devin died, my life did not simply change. The life I knew ended as well. There is a version of me who existed before and now a version of the person I have had to become," Devin’s mother, Kristi Kastler, testified before the court. "Charity knew her drugs were dirty. She didn’t just sell Devin drugs, she sold him something that would ultimately take away his future."
In addition to the second-degree murder charge under Penal Code Section 187(a), Wiley pled guilty to two counts of possession of fentanyl for sale (HS 11351), possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm (HS 11370.1(a)), money laundering (PC 186.10(a)), and criminal conspiracy (PC 182(a)(1)). She also admitted special aggravating factors under California Rules of Court 4.421(a)(8) for operating with high planning, sophistication, and professionalism.
Law enforcement officials note that in 2025, the Ventura County Medical Examiner recorded 216 total overdose deaths across the region, with fentanyl present in 134 of those fatalities. The District Attorney's Office reiterated its commitment to aggressively prosecute commercial drug dealers who distribute lethal synthetic opioids into local communities.
Members of the public seeking information regarding fentanyl dangers, addiction recovery resources, or free Naloxone (Narcan) overdose rescue kits can visit ThinkAgainVC.com. Media inquiries regarding this prosecution can be directed to PIO Joey Buttitta at (805) 767-3400 or Joey.Buttitta@venturacounty.gov. Official releases can be viewed on the Ventura County District Attorney's Office newsroom.