In a case that marks the first time a drug dealer has been convicted and sentenced for a fentanyl-related homicide in Sacramento County, a local man was sentenced to 10 years in state prison Tuesday after pleading guilty to providing a fatal dose of the drug that claimed a man’s life on Sutter Street in January 2024.
Ruslan Kochkin of Folsom appeared before a judge in Sacramento County Superior Courtthis week, where he admitted to supplying the lethal fentanyl that led to the overdose death of a 30-year-old man. The conviction represents a milestone in local efforts to confront the ongoing threat of fentanyl in the community.
The incident occurred on January 19, 2024, when Folsom Police officers and fire personnel responded to reports of an unresponsive individual on Sutter Street. Despite the administration of Narcan, the victim could not be revived.
Following the fatal overdose, Folsom’s Special Investigations Unit launched a comprehensive investigation that led to the arrest of Kochkin. He was found in possession of an ounce of fentanyl and an ounce of methamphetamine at the time of his arrest.
Authorities said the case reflects a commitment to holding drug dealers accountable and preventing further deaths tied to the powerful synthetic opioid, which has become a leading cause of drug-related fatalities across the nation.
This is one of several fentanyl-related cases currently making their way through the courts involving Folsom police investigations. Back in March, a suspected drug dealer was charged with murder for the second time after he was linked to two fentanyl deaths in Sacramento County, the Folsom Police Department said.
The investigation began on Dec. 13, when Folsom officers responded to a suspected fentanyl overdose on Natoma Street. There, they found a 19-year-old man who had overdosed and died.
Officials said detectives found that 21-year-old Keon Taylor of Sacramento had supplied the drug.
Folsom police said detectives uncovered new evidence that linked Taylor to the 2021 overdose death of a 17-year-old in Elk Grove.
On Jan. 8, officials said Taylor was arrested and booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail. He was charged with homicide and transportation of a controlled substance in connection with the Elk Grove teenager’s death.
On Tuesday, Folsom police said it filed an additional murder charge against Taylor following an official report on the 19-year-old’s death from the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office.
Taylor remains in jail and is ineligible for bail. He is scheduled to next appear in court on Thursday.
Folsom Police continue to encourage residents to report suspected drug activity in their neighborhoods by calling the department’s tip line at (916) 930-1098. For those facing addiction, support and recovery resources are available locally and nationally.
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