Marine tries covering up role in fellow Marine’s fentanyl poisoning death in CA, feds say
A former U.S. Marine tried to hide his role in a fellow Marine’s fentanyl poisoning death when he had another service member flush left over pills that led to the overdose, according to federal prosecutors.
Anthony Ruben Whisenant ordered what he thought was oxycodone from a person over Snapchat for the Marine while they were stationed at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California, in May 2020, prosecutors said.
The pills, which turned out to contain fentanyl, were taken by the Marine at a party in Compton, according to prosecutors, who said he died “shortly after.”
Before first responders reached the Marine, Whisenant told another Marine to flush the rest of the pills down a toilet, according to prosecutors.
Now Whisenant, 24, of Wisconsin, has pleaded guilty to the use of a communication facility in committing a felony drug offense, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California said in a Jan. 31 news release.
His defense attorney, George B. Newhouse Jr., told McClatchy News in an emailed statement Feb. 3 that “this case represents a tragedy, but not a tragedy for which my client was or should be held responsible.”
“Mr. Whisenant pleaded guilty to using his smart phone to arrange a meeting with a drug supplier. Anthony’s actions were in no way ‘in relation to’ a fentanyl overdose — shame on the government for attempting to make this case something that it’s not,” Newhouse said.
Newhouse called the government’s news release “misleading” and said Whisenant didn’t buy the pills. He also said no one knew fentanyl was in the opioids “the victim purchased, and then ingested.”
“Our office remains committed to holding accountable those responsible for circulating fentanyl and other dangerous substances in our district and threatening the health and safety of our residents,” U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally said in a statement.
Whisenant was an active-duty lance corporal in the Marine Corps when he ordered pills from Gustavo Jaciel Solis, who’s accused of advertising the drugs as oxycodone, according to prosecutors.
In 2020, Solis and two civilians were charged, along with Whisenant, with “being part of a drug ring that distributed narcotics to civilians and members of the Marine Corps,” prosecutors said.
Solis, 28, pleaded guilty in 2022 to participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy and distributing fentanyl resulting in death, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
His defense attorney didn’t immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment.
Another Marine, Ryan Douglas White, “was charged as an accessory after the fact,” prosecutors said.
Whisenant and White picked up the oxycodone from Solis before the Marine overdosed at the party, according to prosecutors. The Marine had driven both men to collect the pills, prosecutors said.
After the Marine’s overdose, White flushed the pills down a toilet, at Whisenant’s direction, prosecutors said.
“Mr. White has acknowledged and taken full responsibility for his very minor role in what was nothing less than a horrible tragedy,” White’s attorney, David Kaloyanides, told McClatchy News in an emailed statement on Feb. 3. “Mr. White did not know Solis and was not involved in the drug transaction.”
White, 27, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to one count of misprision of a felony in connection with his role in the Marine’s death, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Solis’ sentencing is pending, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Sentencing dates for Solis and Whisenant weren’t listed in court records the morning of Feb. 3.
Camp Pendleton is about a 40-mile drive northwest from San Diego.
Fentanyl, which is significantly stronger than other opioids, is prescribed by doctors to manage severe and chronic pain in patients, according to Yale Medicine. Drug dealers have been reported to mix fentanyl into a variety of drugs, including oxycodone.
This story was originally published February 3, 2025 at 11:46 AM with the headline "Marine tries covering up role in fellow Marine’s fentanyl poisoning death in CA, feds say."
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