San Fernando Valley Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Fentanyl-Laced Pills and Cocaine on Dark Web

A 23-year-old man from the San Fernando Valley has pleaded guilty to federal charges for selling rainbow-colored fentanyl-laced pills and cocaine on hidden internet marketplaces. Brian McDonald, also known as “Malachai Johnson” and “SouthSideOxy,” used aliases to create vendor profiles on dark web marketplaces like White House Market and AlphaBay to distribute drugs in exchange for cryptocurrency.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, McDonald and a co-defendant were charged in May 2023 for conspiring to sell fentanyl and cocaine from at least April 2021 to May 2023. McDonald boasted about his drug sales, with text messages revealing he sold 20,000 pills in one instance and had 34 drug orders to fill in another.

McDonald recruited and hired others to help package and ship the narcotics sold on these hidden internet marketplaces. He also possessed firearms, including two gold-plated handguns, to protect his drug business and the cash made from the illegal sales.

The indictment states that the proceeds from the drug sales, which amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars, were converted from cryptocurrency into cash and stored at McDonald’s and his co-defendant’s residences. McDonald’s sentencing hearing is set for October 21, while his co-defendant, Ciara Clutario, will be sentenced on January 13.

The case sheds light on the growing trend of drug trafficking through online platforms and the dangers of fentanyl-laced pills being sold in colorful and enticing forms. The authorities are cracking down on these illegal activities to protect the public from the harmful effects of these drugs.