Man sentenced to 15 years in prison for fentanyl overdose on Cathedral City teen

Lina Portman3 weeks ago

0 2 minutes read

A man convicted of the fentanyl overdose of a 16-year-old Cathedral City resident has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.

The incident occurred on December 9, 2022, when Cathedral City Police Officers and Cathedral City Fire Department responded to a fentanyl (drug) overdose involving a 16-year-old youth. The teen was transported to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs to receive medical help and survived.

An investigation was then initiated by the Cathedral City Police Department and members of the Coachella Valley Narcotics Task Force. Through their investigation, police were able to identify the man responsible for providing fentanyl to the teen, causing the overdose.

Kevin Burgess was located and arrested in the town of Desert Hot Springs by the Coachella Valley Narcotics Task Force. With the help of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Burgess was federally indicted for selling narcotics causing serious bodily injury.

Burgess pleaded guilty on March 8, 2024, and on June 14, 2024, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison with 3 years of supervised probation upon his release.

The Cathedral City Police Department wants to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl abuse and the consequences of selling fentanyl.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid, approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin as a painkiller. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is manufactured in foreign laboratories, primarily in China, and is smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border by cartels. The drug can be mixed with any number of street narcotics and prescription medications without the user knowing what they are consuming, and ingesting just two milligrams can be fatal.

Fentanyl is the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 45.

News Channel 3 has repeatedly delved into the opioid and fentanyl crisis and how it is affecting our valley.

Visit our “Fentanyl Crisis” section for more coverage

Earlier this year, News Channel 3 anchor Karen Devine hosted the town hall with health care, education and law enforcement professionals who shared the work they have done to “fight the fentanyl crisis” throughout the Coachella Valley.

If you or someone you know has an addiction problem and is looking for help, we've included information about local resources for you.

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