Ventura County’s District Attorney Erik Nasarenko just announced today via News Release that Charity Faith Wiley of Reseda, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. She sold a deadly synthetic drug with a mixture of fentanyl and xylazine to a Simi Valley man who then overdosed and died. To add, she even pled guilty to five more felonies related to her crimes. This includes drug possession, sales activity, gun possession and even money laundering. Wiley also admitted to multiple allegations including the ways she carried out her crimes which indicated some planning, sophistication, and professionalism.
Erik Nasarenko said, ““Today's guilty plea sends a clear message that fentanyl dealers will be held accountable for the lives they destroy. This is the first murder conviction in Ventura County stemming from a fentanyl overdose, and it reflects our commitment to pursuing every appropriate legal avenue against those who knowingly distribute this deadly drug.”
Back June 6th of 2024, The Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crime Units (VC Focus) responded to a residence in Simi Valley for reports of overdose. Inside the victim’s room, multiple drugs and drug paraphernalia were allegedly found. Right after, toxicology shows that a lethal amount of fentanyl and xylazine were found in his system. As the investigation went on, VC FOCUS identified Charity Wiley as the source behind the drugs, she was then arrested by VC FOCUS and Simi Valley PD on March 5, 2025 at her home in Los Angeles County.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Audry Nafziger and Deputy District Attorney Devin Mirchi, members of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Narcotics Unit, prosecuted the case.
"Fatal overdose investigations are complex and require careful coordination between law enforcement, forensic experts, and prosecutors,” Ms. Nafziger said. “Through the outstanding work of VC FOCUS, and the Simi Valley Police Department narcotics bureau we were able to trace the deadly drugs back to the defendant, build a strong case, and secure this historic guilty plea for second-degree murder. The guilty plea today brings a meaningful measure of justice to the family of the victim."
Charity Wiley is scheduled to be sentenced on September 1, 2026 in courtroom 14 of the Ventura County Superior court. She now remains in custody with zero bail and even faces from 15 years to life in state prison.
As mentioned on the news release by the Ventura County D.A., Fentanyl is a highly addictive and often deadly synthetic drug. It is estimated to be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl is one of the most common drugs associated with overdose deaths in the United States.
In 2025, the Ventura County Medical Examiner reported 216 overdose deaths. Fentanyl or a
mixture of fentanyl and other drugs were found in the system of 134 of the overdose victims.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office will seek to aggressively prosecute those that sell, furnish, or distribute fentanyl. The public is urged to learn more about the dangers of fentanyl, how to find resources for people struggling with addiction, and where to get overdose rescue kits.
This information can be found at ThinkAgainVC.com.
Case: 2025004926
Defendant Information:**
Charity Faith Wiley (DOB 09/21/85)
Charges pled guilty to:
PC 187(a) – Second degree murder
- (2 counts) HS 11351 – Possession for sale of a controlled substance - fentanyl
- HS 11370.1(a) – Possession of a controlled substance with firearm
- PC 186.10(a) – Money laundering
- PC 182(a)(1) – Conspiracy to commit a crime
Special allegations admitted:
PC 781 – Offenses in multiple jurisdictions
- PC 790(a) – Jurisdiction
- CRC 4.421(a)(8) – The manner in which the crime was carried out indicates planning, sophistication, or professionalism