Repeat Felon Charged In Four Fatal Fentanyl Overdoses Palmdale

Damian Michael Evans, a 10-time convicted felon from Palmdale, was arrested and federally indicted for distributing fentanyl that caused the overdose deaths of four people at a Palmdale residence in January 2024. The 46-year-old faces a 10-count indictment including charges of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, possession with intent to distribute multiple narcotics, and possession of a firearm and ammunition as a felon. The four overdose victims, identified by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office, died from combinations of fentanyl, cocaine, and ethanol, with all deaths ruled accidental. Evans' criminal history spans from 1997 to 2016, including nine drug-related felonies mostly involving drug dealing, and he was not legally permitted to possess firearms found in his possession linked to drug trafficking. If convicted on all counts, Evans faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years and up to life imprisonment. The case is under investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.