A Southern California man has been charged with selling a synthetic opioid that is three times more powerful than fentanyl and killed a 22-year-old buyer, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles announced Nov. 21.
Benjamin Anthony Collins, 21, of Santa Clarita in northwestern Los Angeles County, was charged with one count of distribution of protonitazene, resulting in death.
Prosecutors said they believed it was the nation’s first fatal case involving the narcotic, according to the statement.
Federal authorities arrested Collins on Monday. He pleaded not guilty to the charge at his arraignment Wednesday, prosecutors said, and is expected to face trial on Jan. 14….