California fentanyl dealer sentenced to 30 years for role in two overdose deaths

San Diego, California – Jonathan Tyler Gauthier, a San Diego-based fentanyl dealer whose drugs led to the deaths of two young men in the span of four months, was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in federal prison. The case, described by the judge as one of the most tragic to come before her courtroom, underscores the human toll of the fentanyl crisis and the federal government’s increasingly aggressive posture toward dealers linked to fatal overdoses.

Gauthier, 34, pleaded guilty earlier this year to distributing fentanyl that resulted in the deaths of 24-year-old Sam Guest in September 2022 and 27-year-old Jesse White on Christmas Eve of the same year. Despite being aware of the potency and danger of the drugs he sold—and despite knowing that Sam had died from a pill he provided—Gauthier continued dealing. Three months after Guest’s death, Gauthier sold ten fentanyl pills to White, who was found unresponsive hours later in his bedroom.

“This is one of the most tragic cases I’ve had in my courtroom in a long time,” said U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino before issuing the sentence.

Investigators built their case through a combination of cell phone records, witness interviews, and evidence recovered at both death scenes. In Sam Guest’s case, text messages revealed Gauthier had warned him that a batch of fentanyl was unusually strong, texting, “Ur being careful.” Sam died later that night. In Jesse White’s case, his phone showed a days-long exchange with Gauthier negotiating the price of “blues”—a street term for counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl.

White purchased the pills on December 23, 2022, after leaving his family’s holiday gathering. By the next morning, he was dead. Police found blue pills marked “M30” beside his body—identical to the ones he had purchased from Gauthier.

Federal prosecutors emphasized that Gauthier’s conduct wasn’t isolated or impulsive. He had a history of drug dealing, previous convictions for robbery and narcotics offenses, and was caught selling methamphetamine in Las Vegas even after White’s death. His actions, they argued, demonstrated a sustained and callous disregard for human life.

The sentencing brought some measure of justice for the families of Sam Guest and Jesse White, both of whom were remembered for their warmth, curiosity, and deep connections to loved ones. Sam was known for his joyful spirit and infectious smile. Jesse was described as a history buff with a heart of gold and a deep bond with his young niece, with whom he had been planning a trip to the zoo.

“This sentence is a resounding reminder that dealing deadly and dangerous drugs like fentanyl is not a victimless crime,” said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Jacob Galvan.

The case was part of a broader regional effort by the Overdose Response Team and the Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team (FAST), which includes the U.S. Attorney’s Office, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and multiple local law enforcement agencies.