Counterfeit Medicine Has Cost Many American Lives

About This Page

The counterfeit problem in America spans every therapeutic area and has claimed lives of people across the nation. We have included here many of the Americans who have been felled by counterfeit medicines. When we have spoken with their families, we have included a link to their story here.  Photos shown here have been provided by the family or the media. We have only cropped them to exclude non-victims.

 

Learn more about the dangers of breaking the supply chain through importation and how you can speak up for safety.

Former University of Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan was killed by a counterfeit pill in Newport Beach, California on May 11, 2021.
Colt Brennan
May 11, 2021 Image: Flickr
Chicago native Walter Riley IV died on March 20, 2021 in after taking a fake pill in Miami, Florida
Walter Riley IV
March 20, 2021
Pennsylvania resident Christine Englehardt died in Miami, Florida in March 2021. Two men have been charged with providing her with a fake pill made with fentanyl, sexually assaulting her, and stealing her credit cards.
Christine Englehardt
March 18, 2021
22-year-old Darian Scott of Flagstaff, Arizona died of fentanyl poisoning after taking a fake oxycodone pill.
Darian Scott
August 2, 2019
Landon Marsh died of fentanyl poisoning in Tucson, AZ in May 2020 after taking a counterfeit Percocet
Landon Christopher Marsh
May 18, 2020
Cameron Stewart of Cedar Park, Texas died in March 2021 after he took a fake Valium made with fentanyl
Cameron Stewart
March 20, 2021
Isabelle Sutter, 20, died in Grand Rapids, Michigan after taking a fake OxyContin made with fentanyl
Isabelle Sutter
July 15, 2020
20-year-old Riverside resident Athena Zepeda died of fentanyl poisoning after taking fake Percocet at a party.
Athena Zepeda
November 7, 2020
Lawton, Oklahoma resident Doretta Rhodes died in June 2020 after taking a counterfeit Roxicodone pill made with fentanyl
Doretta Rhodes
June 12, 2020
40-year-old Davonia Cleveland of Alexandria, Louisiana died on July 24, 2020 after she took counterfeit oxycodone pills made with fentanyl.
Davonia Cleveland
July 24, 2020
Caleb Kiessling, 20, Kyler Kiessling, 18, and an unnamed friend died in Auburn Hills, Michigan on July 26, 2020 after they all took counterfeit Percocet made with fentanyl
Caleb and Kyler Kiessling
July 29, 2020
Ryan Nicholas Weber of Blaine, Minnesota, 34, died on May 22, 2020 after taking a counterfeit oxycodone made with fentanyl
Ryan Nicholas Weber
May 22, 2020
14-year-old Alondra Valeria Salinas died in Prescott Valley, Arizona on October 20, 2020 after taking a fake pill she bought in response to a post on Snapchat.
Alondra Valeria Salinas
October 20, 2020
23-year-old Fort Wayne, Indiana resident Christoper Juillerat died of fentanyl poisoning on May 12, 2020 after taking a fake pill.
Christoper Juillerat
May 12, 2020
53-year-old Hayward, Wisconsin native Lisa Deneen Quagon died of fentanyl poisoning June 11, 2020, days after taking a fake Percocet pill.
Lisa Deneen Quagon
June 11, 2020
23-year-old Kendrick, Idaho native Cal Daniel Heinen died in Washington state on November 21, 2019 after taking a fentanyl-laced pill.
Cal Daniel Heinen
November 21, 2019
19-year old Devin Norring of Hastings, Minnesota died after taking a counterfeit pill
Devin Joseph Norring
April 4, 2020
Oaklawn, IL resident Aspen Maloney died in December 2018 after taking a counterfeit Xanax.
Aspen Maloney
December 12, 2018
Charles Ternan died at Santa Clara University in California in May 2020 after taking a counterfeit Percocet he ordered online
Charles Ternan
May 14, 2020
Matthew Loudon of Olney, MD died in November 2020 after taking a counterfeit Xanax that was made with fentanyl.
Matthew Loudon
November 3, 2020
14-year-old Aliso Viejo, CA resident Alex Neville died in June 2020 when the oxycodone he ordered on Snapchat turned out to be fentanyl.
Alexander Hastings Neville
June 23, 2020
Zach Plunk of Mesa, Arizona died of fentanyl poisoning in August 2020 after taking a fake Percocet
Zach Plunk
August 2020
St. Albans, VT resident Donald Stevens died in May 2019 after he was sold a counterfeit pill that contained fentanyl
Donald Stevens
May 5, 2019
David Wayne Overlin of Decatur, IL died in April 2019 after taking a counterfeit Xanax made with fentanyl
David Wayne Overlin
April 3, 2019
UNR Student Jordan Watts died in Reno, Nevada on March 2, 2019 after taking counterfeit Xanax
Jordan Watts
March 2, 2019
UNR student Ben Taylor died in Reno, NV on March 3, 2019 after taking a counterfeit pain pill.
Ben Taylor
March 3, 2019
Caley Epstein of Beaverton, OR died December 18, 2020 after taking a counterfeit pain pill he got on Snapchat..
Caley Epstein
December 18, 2020
Jonathan Ellington of Carbondale, CO died December 28, 2017 after taking a counterfeit pain pill.
Jonathan Ellington
December 28, 2017
Brian Eastin of Colorado Springs, CO died May 8, 2020 after taking a counterfeit pain pill.
Brian Eastin
May 8, 2020
Leon Redfeather Caldwell of Neopit, WI died on July 9, 2019 after taking part of a pill made with fentanyl.
Leon Redfeather Caldwell
July 9, 2019
Adrian Caggianelli died in Overland Park, Kansas on July 28, 2020 after taking a counterfeit Xanax
Adrian Caggianelli
July 28, 2020
Ryan Turman<br>June 6, 2020
Ryan Turman
June 6, 2020
Sally Ricchiuti of San Diego, CA died on September 18, 2020 after taking a counterfeit pill made with fentanyl.
Sally Ricchiuti
September 18, 2020
Aundrea Haas died in Myrtle Beach, SC on December 3, 2020 after taking counterfeit Xanax
Aundrea Haas
December 3, 2020
Taylor-and-Dad
Young man in a black shirt in a green outdoor setting
Jake died on May 27, 2020 when he took part of a Xanax pill that proved to be counterfeit
Emilio Velci of Atascadero, CA died on March 9, 2020 after taking a fentanyl-laced, counterfeit Percocet.
Emilio Velci
March 9, 2020
Jonyvan Johnson of Hew Haven, IN died April 19, 2020 after taking a fentanyl-laced counterfeit Percocet.
Jonyvan Johnson
April 19, 2020
Christian Query died in Lancater, PA on February 13, 2019, after taking a counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl.
Christian Query
February 13, 2019
Graham Jordan died in Baton Rouge, LA in January 2017 after taking a counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl.
Graham Jordan
January 29, 2017
Daniel Davis died in January 2020 in Reno, NV after taking a fentanyl-laced counterfeit pill.
Daniel Davis
January 29, 2020
Jacob Eckart of Reno, NV died on February 3, 2020 after taking a fentanyl-laced counterfeit pill.
Jacob Eckart
February 3, 2020
17-year-old Hannah Cupp of Prescott Valley, AZ died in March 2020 after taking a counterfeit pill.
Hannah Cupp
March 22, 2020
Lantz Tucker of Olathe, KS died on March 7. 2020 after taking a counterfeit pill.
Lantz Tucker
March 7, 2020
Marcus Krogh of Mankato, MN died in May 2020 after taking a counterfeit pill.
Marcus Krogh
May 21, 2020
Travis Jacobson died in Los Angeles, CA on August 13, 2019, when a Xanax he took proved to be a fentanyl-laced counterfeit.
Travis Jacobson
August 13, 2019
Man with glasses in front of tree
Jaydon Rogers of West Haven, Utah
Young man in letter jacket standing in front a wall, wrestling boots, badge and medal alongside him
Jaydon, with his wrestling boots and medals.
eric-griffin-l5-10-16
Gavin Keblish of Eastport, NY died after he had surgery and purchased counterfeit, fentanyl-laced oxycodone online.
Gavin Keblish
August 13, 2016
21-year-old Daly City, CA. resident Ruslan Klyuev died after consuming counterfeit oxycondone.
Ruslan Klyuev
June 13, 2016
Mac MIller died in his home in Studio City, CA after taking counterfeit oxycodone pills made with fentanyl.
American Rapper Mac Miller
September 7, 2018
Ashley Romero and Her Son
Casey Force<br>July 25, 2019
Casey Force
July 25, 2019
Matthew Matich, counterfeit pill victim, San Pedro, CA
Matthew Matich
July 26, 2018
Marcia Bergeron died in December 2006 after taking counterfeit medicine.
Marcia Bergeron

December 6, 2006

Dallas, TX resident Wykesha Reid died in a salon on February 19, 2015 after receiving black market silicone injections.
Wykesha Reid
February 19, 2015
William Grzyminski died in Buckingham, PA on November 3, 2015 after taking a fentanyl-laced counterfeit Percocet.
William Grzyminski
November 3, 2015
Staunton, VA resident Travis Johnson died February 2, 2018 after taking a counterfeit Percocet laced with carfentanil.
Travis Johnson
February 2, 2018
Portland, Oregon resident Taylor Martinek died on January 14, 2017 after he unknowingly took a fentanyl-laced counterfeit OxyContin.
Taylor Martinek
January 14, 2017
Tamara Blaine of Queens, NY died in July 2013 after she received black market silicone injections.
Tamara Blaine
July 8, 2013
Miami resident Suyima Torres died in April 2013 after receiving black market silicone injections.
Suyima Torres
April 2013
Spencer Palozej of Manchester, CT died on February 1, 2018 when the oxycodone he bought from an acquaintance turned out to be laced with fentanyl.
Spencer Palozej
February 1, 2018
Sawyer Robert McAvoy <br> June 28, 2016
Sawyer Robert McAvoy
June 28, 2016
Nathan Van De Mark<br>December 13, 2017
Nathan Van De Mark
December 13, 2017
Atlanta performer Lateasha Shuntel Hall died on November 18, 2015 after receiving black market silicone injections.
Lateasha Shuntel Hall
November 18, 2015
Kelly Mayhew of Suitland, MD died on May 30, 2015 after receiving black market silicone injections.
Kelly Mayhew
May 30, 2015
Santa Ana, CA resident Katya De La Riva died of silicone embolism syndrome on January 21, 2015 after receiving black market cosmetic injections.
Katya De La Riva
January 21, 2015
On March 24, 2012 Atlanta resident Karima Gordon died of silicone embolism in her lungs after receiving black market cosmetic injections.
Karima Gordon
March 24, 2012
Phoenix, AZ firefighter Juston Doherty died on July 8, 2017 after taking a fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone.
Juston Doherty
July 8, 2017
Jolene Berger Bowman<br>July 1, 2015
Jolene Berger Bowman
July 1, 2015
Jared Friederick of Prescott Valley, AZ died on June 7, 2018 after taking a counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl.
Jared Friederick
June 7, 2018
Jamie Daniels died on December 7, 2016 in Southfield, MI after taking a counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl.
Jamie Daniels
December 7, 2016
Charles Wilson of Lawrenceville, GA died February 26, 2015 after taking a counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl.
Charles Wilson
February 26, 2015
Buckeye, AZ resident Bryan McKinsey died May 9, 2018 after taking counterfeit oxycodone laced with fentanyl.
Bryan McKinsey
May 9, 2018
Beth Roulet of Mankato, MN died March 5, 2019 after taking counterfeit oxycodone.
Beth Roulet
March 5, 2019
Betty Pino, a Miami radio personality, died of sepsis in August 2013 after surgery to remove black market silicone she'd had injected years earlier.
Betty Pino
August 2013
Oakland, CA resident Amelia Lopez Zaguilan died in Citrus Heights, CA in May 2013 after receiving black market silicone injections.
Amelia Lopez Zaguilan
May 2013
<a href="https://www.safemedicines.org/2017/02/sad-story-of-betty-hunters-death-illustrates-danger-of-fake-drugs.html">Betty Hunter<br> August 26, 2011</a>
Betty Hunter
August 26, 2011
David Ochoa of San Bruno, CA died on February 19, 2019 after taking a fentanyl-laced Xanax.
David Ochoa
February 19, 2018
Tosh Ackerman died in Aptos, CA on October 27, 2015, after he took 1/4 of a Xanax pill made with fentanyl.
Tosh Ackerman
October 27, 2015
<a href="https://www.safemedicines.org/2017/12/joe-patterson.html">Joe Patterson<br> February 15, 2015</a>
Joe Patterson
February 15, 2015
Austin Devin Berlin<br> November 12, 2017
Austin Devin Berlin
November 12, 2017
Torrie Hardin-Walsh<br> March 8, 2018
Torrie Hardin-Walsh
March 8, 2018
Tiffanie Scott<br>July 6, 2016
Tiffanie Scott
July 6, 2016
Taylor Durkee<br>March 12, 2017
Taylor Durkee
March 12, 2017
Taylor Coffman<br>October 4, 2017
Taylor Coffman
October 4, 2017
Tank Hafertepen<br>October 15, 2018
Tank Hafertepen
October 15, 2018
Tampa resident Tanisha Cassidine became deathly ill the day after she received black market silicone injections. She died March 16, 2017.
Tanisha Cassidine
March 16, 2017
Symone Jones<br>January 12, 2017
Symone Jones
January 12, 2017
Oklahoma City resident Susan Hadley was found dead on March 27, 2016, after she'd taken a counterfeit version of a prescription pain killer.
Susan Hadley
March 27, 2016
Sabrina Bryant<br>December 3, 2015
Sabrina Bryant
December 3, 2015
Ryan Briese<br>July 19, 2017
Ryan Briese
July 19, 2017
Russell Meehan<br> March 2016
Russell Meehan
March 2016
<a href="https://www.safemedicines.org/2018/07/robbie-hodge.html">Robert Hodge<br>December 4, 2016</a>
Robert Hodge
December 4, 2016
On Nov. 16, 2016, Poway, CA resident Richard Summerfruit died after ingesting half of a Percocet.
Richard Summerfruit
November 16, 2016
Rachel Ramirez<br>May 14, 2018
Rachel Ramirez
May 14, 2018
Arkansas native Pruitt Wright died of fentanyl poisoning in Florida on November 15, 2016. He had purchased Xanax which were laced with carfentanil.
Pruitt Wright
November 15, 2016
Philadelphia, PA resident Lesbia Ayala died in the Bronx, NY on June 17, 2018 after receiving black market silicone injections.
Lesbia Ayala
June 17, 2018
New York City resident Latesha Bynum died on July 27, 2017 after receiving black market cosmetic injections.
Latesha Bynum
July 27, 2017
Kyle Kearby of South Haven, IN, died on September 8, 2018 after taking counterfeit Xanax that a family member believed laced with fentanyl.
Kyle Kearby
September 8, 2018
Kara Heckenberger, a resident of Lower Nazareth Township, PA, died of fentanyl poisoning on August 9, 2017 after taking what she thought was a Percocet.
Kara Heckenberger
August 9, 2017
Chronic pain sufferer Justin Saens of San Jose, CA was found dead on April 13, 2016 after he took counterfeit fentanyl-laced Norco that be believed was the real thing.
Justin Saens
April 13, 2016
<a href="https://www.safemedicines.org/2018/02/mother-warns-others-after-loss-of-son-because-of-a-counterfeit-xanax.html">Joshua Holton<br>September 15, 2016</a>
Joshua Holton
September 15, 2016
Prescott Valley, AZ teen Jake Morales and his friend, Gunner Bundrick, died on November 3, 2018 after taking counterfeit Percocet laced with fentanyl.
Jake Morales
November 3, 2018
James Bohard Sr. and his, son James Bohard, Jr., died of fentanyl poisoning on Christmas Day in 2017 after taking pills that were supposed to be oxycodone.
James Bohard, Jr.
December 25, 2018
James Bohard Sr. and his, son James Bohard, Jr., died of fentanyl poisoning on Christmas Day in 2017 after taking pills that were supposed to be oxycodone.
James Bohard, Sr.
December 25, 2017
<a href="https://www.safemedicines.org/2020/05/jaydon-rogers-utah.html">Jaydon Rogers<br>March 14, 2018</a>
Jaydon Rogers
March 14, 2018
On August 19, 2018, Jeffrey Scott Callahan was found dead in Spalding County, Georgia. He had taken counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl.
Jeffrey Scott Callahan
August 18, 2018
Jeffrey Vaughn was found dead on March 27, 2016 in Oklahoma City after he'd taken a counterfeit version of a prescription pain killer.
Jeffrey Vaughn
March 27, 2016
<a href="https://www.safemedicines.org/2018/09/sacramento-jerome-butler.html">Jerome Butler<br>March 30, 2016</a>
Jerome Butler
March 30, 2016
Jackson Moore of Monroe County, GA died on June 4, 2017 after he took a counterfeit Percocet pill.
Jackson Moore
June 4, 2017
Prescott Valley, AZ teen Gunner Bundrick and his friend, Jake Morales, died on November 3, 2018 after taking counterfeit Percocet laced with fentanyl.
Gunner Bundrick
November 3, 2018
El Dorado Hills, CA resident George Berry died as a result of taking a counterfeit fentanyl pill on March 25, 2016.
George Berry
March 25, 2016
Garrett Arendse died in Alger, WA on April 1, 2018 after he took counterfeit oxycodone laced with fentanyl.
Garrett Arendse
April 1, 2018
Eric Purcell died in Boca Raton, FL in March 2017 after taking a counterfeit Xanax.
Eric Purcell
March 2017
Louisville, KY resident Derrick Elder died on October 25, 2018 after taking counterfeit Percocet.
Derrick Elder
October 25, 2018
On August 1, 2018, Dennis Wade was found dead in Spalding County, Georgia. He had taken counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl.
Dennis Wade
August 1, 2018
Manteca, CA resident David Alfaro died in March 2017 after taking counterfeit Norco.
David Alfaro
March 2016
Danielle Fallon of Chatham, NY died September 21, 2017 after taking counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl.
Danielle Fallon
September 21, 2017
Corey Mandich died on August 10, 2018 in Vanderbilt, PA after taking a counterfeit oxycodone that contained fentanyl.
Corey Mandich
August 10, 2018
Albuquerque, NM resident Chuckie Miller died on March 11, 2017 after taking counterfeit oxycodone laced with fentanyl.
Chuckie Miller
March 11, 2017
Christy Schlund was found dead on March 27, 2016 in Oklahoma City after she'd taken a counterfeit version of a prescription pain killer.
Christy Schlund
March 27, 2016
Christiana Kuerner died in Las Vegas, NV on March 14, 2017 after taking counterfeit medicine laced with fentanyl.
Christiana Kuerner
March 14, 2017
Cameron Johnson of Wyoming, Minnesota died December 12, 2016 after taking fentanyl-laced oxycodone.
Cameron Johnson
December 12, 2016
Brayden George died in Petaluma, CA on April 16, 2018 after taking a counterfeit Xanax.
Brayden George
April 16, 2018
Bradley Stokesbury died in Englewood, OH on March 25, 2016 after taking a counterfeit Xanax that was laced with fentanyl.
Bradley Stokesbury
March 25, 2016
<a href="https://www.safemedicines.org/2019/10/blain-padgett.html">Blain Padgett<br>March 2, 2018</a>
Blain Padgett
March 2, 2018
Rebecca Doyle died in Clear Lake, WA on April 6, 2018 after she took counterfeit oxycodone laced with fentanyl.
Rebecca Doyle
April 6, 2018
<a href="https://www.safemedicines.org/2019/10/ashley-romero-mother-slain-in-colorado.html">Ashley Romero<br>June 11, 2018</a>
Ashley Romero
June 11, 2018
Alyssa Noceda<br>February 3, 2018
Alyssa Noceda
February 3, 2018
Alexandria McNeeley of Mooresville, NC was found dead in her car on December 3, 2017 after she had taken a fentanyl-laced counterfeit pill.
Alexandria McNeeley
December 3, 2017
Alexander Fisher of Enfield, CT died on September 30, 2016 after taking a single fentanyl-laced counterfeit OxyContin.
Alexander Fisher
September 30, 2016
Tucson, AZ resident Aaron Francisco Chavez died November 1, 2018 after taking a pill laced with fentanyl.
Aaron Francisco Chavez
October 31, 2018