Former Santa Rita Jail Inmate Sentenced To 7 Years For Distributing Fentanyl That Killed Fellow Inmate

OAKLAND – A federal judge today sentenced Kameron Patricia Reid to 84 months in prison for distributing fentanyl that killed an inmate at the Santa Rita Jail, announced United States Attorney Stephane M. Hinds, FBI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp, and Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris.  The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Jon S. Tigar. 

In a written plea agreement entered earlier, Reid, 38, of San Leandro, described the events that led to her fellow inmate’s death on May 16, 2021.  Reid was incarcerated at the time in Santa Rita Jail located in Dublin, Alameda County.  She admitted that during her incarceration she distributed fentanyl within the jail, hiding the fentanyl from correctional officers by concealing it in a cavity of her body.  On May 16, Reid provided fentanyl to two inmates identified in the plea agreement as “Victim 1” and “Inmate 2.”  She saw both inmates ingest the fentanyl, and each became visibly intoxicated.  Reid suspected Victim 1 was overdosing.  In her plea agreement Reid admitted she did not call for assistance for fear of getting into trouble.  Instead, she flushed the rest of her fentanyl down a toilet.  Another inmate eventually called for assistance, but Victim 1 died.  Reid admitted in her plea agreement that she then lied to investigators about her role in Victim 1’s death.

The government described in its sentencing memo filed for today’s hearing that Reid distributed fentanyl to multiple inmates at Santa Rita Jail from approximately April 23, 2021, when Reid was arrested by San Leandro police officers and found with fentanyl, until her release in May 2021.  The day before Victim 1’s death, Reid distributed pink-colored fentanyl to Victim 1 and Inmate 2. After learning the pink fentanyl created little effect on the inmates, the next day – May 16 – Reid provided Victim 1 and Inmate 2 with white-colored fentanyl.  According to the government’s sentencing memo, Reid knew the white-colored fentanyl was stronger and referred to it as the “big dog.”  The sentencing memo further describes that once Victim 1 ingested the white fentanyl and showed signs of overdosing, Reid checked on the victim multiple times but never summoned help.  Hours later another inmate summoned assistance, and a half hour after that Victim 1 was pronounced dead.  The government argued in its sentencing memo that Reid’s distribution of fentanyl was reckless and her failure to summon help was callous, selfish, and cruel.

In addition to the 84 month sentence, United States District Judge Tigar ordered Reid to serve a three year period of supervision when she leaves prison.  Reid was in custody at her sentencing hearing and begins serving her sentence immediately.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly K. Priedeman of the Oakland Branch of the United States Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Leeya Kekona.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, DEA, and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. 

One Pill Can Kill: Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill. Fentanyl is a highly potent opiate that drug dealers dilute with cutting agents to make counterfeit prescription pills that appear to be Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs.  Fentanyl is used because it’s cheap.  Small variations in the quantity or quality of fentanyl in a fake  prescription pill can accidentally create a lethal dosage.  Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of drug poisoning deaths in the United States.  Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies, like Percocet and Xanax.  For example, fake prescription pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These particular pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors.  They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill.  Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they are routinely fake and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late.