No bail for accused deadly fentanyl dealer

A San Diego man has been detained without bail after being indicted for causing the deaths of two North Park men who overdosed on fentanyl he allegedly furnished to them in 2022.

At 6 a.m. on Nov. 10, 2022, San Diego Police officers responded to a 911 call to a North Park residence. They found four people lying on the floor of a bedroom.

Two men, who were only identified in court records as Z.W. and M.L., were pronounced dead from a mixture of fentanyl and para-fluorfentanyl.

Police and investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration were able to revive Scott Anthony Sargent, 63, and another person with Narcan. Those two were transported to a hospital where they recovered.

A search of Sargent’s backpack and duffel bag at the scene showed the mixture of fentanyl and para-fluorfentanyl. Investigators also searched Sargent’s storage unit and discovered additional baggies containing the same type of mixture, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

“Fentanyl kills indiscriminately,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath in a news release. “Investigators will leave no stone unturned in the effort to identify and charge distributors of this poison.”

“Mr. Sargent’s alleged actions cost two people their lives,” said Acting Special Agent in charge Anthony Chrysanthis. “The San Diego DEA and its partners are dedicated to bringing to justice those that sell, traffic, or provide fentanyl in our community.”

Sargent pleaded not guilty to two counts of intentionally distributing a drug which resulted in the deaths of two people and with conspiracy to distribute the drug with others. Sargent is the only person charged.

U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Allison Goddard signed a detention order remanding him to the Metropolitan Correctional Center without bail on the grounds that he was a danger to the public and was a flight risk, according to court records.

Sargent was in possession of a firearm at the scene of the deaths and had five prior felony convictions since 2006, the magistrate noted.

Sargent did appear before Judge Robert Huie on July 19 in which his case was delayed “in the interest of justice,” according to records and he will next return to court on Sept. 13.