A Hawaiian Gardens man, Gregory Hevener, has been found guilty in federal court of distributing a tar-like substance containing fentanyl through the online marketplace OfferUp. The substance was sold to a teenager who tragically died of an overdose. Hevener, 47, was convicted on Monday of one count each of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and possession with intent to distribute heroin, according to a statement by the U.S. attorney’s office.
The incident occurred in November 2020 when the 18-year-old victim responded to Hevener’s post on OfferUp advertising “BLACK TAR ROOFING MATERIALS!!” for sale in Long Beach. After communicating about the ad, Hevener and the victim met in Hawaiian Gardens, where Hevener sold the victim what he claimed was heroin. However, the substance turned out to be a dangerous mixture of fentanyl and tramadol, a pain-relief medication.
Tragically, the victim drove home and consumed the drugs, resulting in a fatal overdose. The U.S. attorney’s office stated that Hevener’s actions directly led to the teenager’s death.
The use of seemingly innocuous terms like “roofing tar” to advertise illicit fentanyl on internet marketplaces has been a concerning trend. In recent years, OfferUp was known as a platform where covert drug ads were prevalent. However, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) successfully urged the site to address these black market postings in 2021.
OfferUp explicitly prohibits the sale of illegal drugs, cannabis, and prescription medications, according to a company spokesperson. They stated that the company reviews posted content to ensure ethical and safe transactions, removing listings and taking action against accounts that violate their policies. OfferUp collaborates with law enforcement and updates product features to combat illicit activities.
Similarly, Craigslist has also made efforts to address suspected drug sales on its platform. The prevalence of suspicious ads decreased after inquiries were made by The Los Angeles Times regarding the site’s actions against such activities.
Gregory Hevener’s case, although not the catalyst for the DEA’s interest in OfferUp, highlights the dangers associated with the online sale of illicit substances. Law enforcement conducted searches at and outside Hevener’s residence in July, October, and December 2021, resulting in the seizure of significant quantities of black tar heroin, fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and other related items.
Hevener is scheduled for sentencing on September 16 and faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in federal prison, with a statutory maximum sentence of life behind bars.
