NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – April 5, 2019

SAN DIEGO – Corey Bernard Green of Fallbrook was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Battaglia to 151 months in prison for distributing the fentanyl that caused the death of 34-year-old Joseth Adam Sellars on November 3, 2017.

On November 2, 2017, Sellars told his wife, Rebecca Sellars, that he had been sober for about 100 days.  Two days later, she woke up in the morning and found him lying face down on their living room floor. She called 911 but it was too late. Law enforcement arriving at the scene observed drug paraphernalia and a white powdery substance near his body.

The investigation of Sellars’ death found text messages between Sellars and Green indicating that Green had supplied heroin laced with fentanyl to Sellars on November 3, 2017, and that Sellars had taken an Uber to Green’s residence to pick up the substance.  Green was also determined to have conducted a Google search for information related to Sellars’ death, Fallbrook and November 3.

The Government’s sentencing papers noted that this case was a “prime example of the extraordinarily devastating impact that fentanyl, a drug far more potent than heroin, has on lives.”  Fentanyl is anywhere from 25 to 50 times more potent than heroin.  As Rebecca Sellars explained in a statement filed with the Government’s sentencing papers, “[i]n an instant, the earth stopped spinning, the sun ceased shining, and all I could see was a world that I didn’t want to live in anymore.”  During sentencing, Ms. Sellars told the Court that, while her husband was in treatment, she told Mr. Green directly to “leave my husband alone” and argued that this was, therefore not simply “a tragic accident.”  Indeed, on the morning she awoke and discovered her husband deceased from the overdose, Ms. Sellars said, “I woke up in a very good mood because I believed my husband was 102 days sober.”

 In imposing the 151 month sentence, Judge Battaglia explained that, “There is nothing more serious than the loss of life…”  He also noted that, “No matter what we do, it will not bring Mr. Sellars back” and that Ms. Sellars’ statement was “very impactful.” 

“As the opioid crisis continues to rage on, my office will zealously pursue cases against people who distribute fentanyl and other illicit drugs that, tragically, have the power to destroy lives,”  said U.S. Attorney Robert S. Brewer, Jr.  “I commend prosecutors Larry Casper and Tim Coughlin, the Sheriff’s Department, the San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office for their outstanding work in this case.”

In June of 2017, the San Diego Sheriff's Department took proactive measures to identify, investigate and arrest individuals who were distributing dangerous substances, such as fentanyl laced cocaine and dangerous opiates, into our communities.  The Sheriff's Department began delegating resources in the initial stages of overdose investigations to develop critical evidence which might have been overlooked before the opioid crisis became a reality for many families.  It is the Sheriff's Department goal to remove these dangerous drugs from our streets and hold people like Corey Green accountable for endangering the lives of others with reckless abandon.

DEFENDANT                                    Case Number 18-cr-2249-AJB                                                       

Corey Bernard Green              Age: 42                       Fallbrook, California

SUMMARY OF CHARGE TO WHICH GUILTY PLEA ENTERED

Distribution of Fentanyl – Title 21 U.S.C. Section 841(a)

Maximum Penalty – 20 years in custody and $1 million fine

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

San Diego Sheriff’s Department

San Diego Sheriff’s Department Regional Crime Lab

San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office

San Diego District Attorney’s Office

United States Attorney’s Office

Assistant U. S. Attorney Timothy Coughlin (619) 546-6768 and Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry A. Casper (619) 546-6734

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – March 16, 2018

SAN DIEGO – On November 2, 2017, a 26-year-old Fallbrook man told his wife he had been sober for 100 days. Two days later, she found him lying face down on their living room floor. She called 911 but it was too late.

Cause of death: Fentanyl toxicity.

What followed was a five-month investigation by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department resulting in federal charges against 41-year-old Corey Bernard Green of Fallbrook, who, according to a federal complaint, supplied the drug that led to the overdose.  Green is charged with Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in the Death of the Fallbrook man, identified in court documents only as JAS.

“As the opioid epidemic rages across the nation, we will do everything we can to save lives,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman. “That includes investigating overdose deaths as homicides and pursuing charges against dealers of the poison that is killing people every single day in this country.”

“This investigation and criminal filing represents the San Diego Sheriff's Department's commitment to combating the opioid epidemic, utilizing every available resource to identify and apprehend suspects whose narcotic trafficking activities lead to so many needless deaths,” said Sheriff Bill Gore. 

The investigation by a San Diego Sheriff’s detective determined that JAS took an Uber taxi to Green’s Fallbrook residence to purchase fentanyl. An examination of JAS’s cell phone confirmed he paid for an Uber taxi on Friday morning, November 3, 2017. The detective obtained Green’s cell phone after he was arrested on unrelated charges of manufacturing a controlled substance. Text messages obtained from Green’s cell revealed he had been in contact with JAS for several days prior to the overdose death.

Their drug-based relationship culminated on Friday November 3, 2017, when Green allegedly sold JAS a fentanyl- laced product.  The contents of that text message are included below:

11-1-17 JAS  “Hey u up?”

11-2-17 Green   “I’m Up”

11-2-17 JAS   “And I’m sure you already know but I have no cash just these bottles and batteries of u need”

11-2-17 Green  “I only have a little China but it’s even a ton stronger then the last powder”

11-2-17 JAS  “Just did half. Feeling good. Thanks again.”

11-2-17 Green   “Ok”

11-3-17 JAS   “I actually got money today! No chance I could get you to come out if I pay extra?”   Or if you’re up I could take an uber real quick”

11-3-17 Green   “R u driving?” Will you have that Uber stop at McDonalds for me? I’ll throw you a little extra?  It’s China.”

According to the complaint, the slang term “China,” when used in this context, is reference to a strong heroin containing fentanyl.  

The last known contact with JAS occurred Friday night, November 3, 2017, when he said good night to his wife and went to play video games in the couple’s living room. She woke up the next morning and found him.

An investigation of Green’s recent criminal activity found that on November 30, 2017, Green was arrested and charged by the San Diego District Attorney’s Office with manufacturing a controlled substance.  Green subsequently pleaded guilty to that charge and is currently serving a sentence in state custody.  The United States has filed a writ to have Green transferred into federal custody to face the Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death charge. He is expected to appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in federal court next week to face the federal charge.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has recently charged two other individuals with the same crime. Alleged fentanyl distributor Kyle Anthony Shephard was arrested and charged in February with Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death.  According to the complaint, Shephard distributed fentanyl to a United States Marine on January 27, 2017, which resulted in the death of the Marine identified in the complaint only as “MC.”  For further information, please see Case Number 18-mj-0935-MDD.

While final numbers have not been released, preliminary estimates reflect that deaths caused by fentanyl analogs doubled in San Diego County in 2017 over 2016.

DEFENDANT                                     Case Number 18-mj-1215-BGS                                              

Corey Bernard Green                            Age: 41           

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death – Title 21, U.S.C., Section 841(b)(1)(C)

Maximum penalty: Mandatory minimum 20 years in prison up to life

AGENCY

San Diego Sheriff’s Department

San Diego Sheriff’s Department Regional Crime Lab

San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office

San Diego District Attorney’s Office

United States Attorney’s Office

*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.