Mesa PD make first-of-its-kind arrest involving illegal sale of fentanyl

MESA, AZ -- The Mesa Police Department has made a groundbreaking arrest under a new law aimed at imposing stricter penalties for illegal drug sales. On March 26, police apprehended 34-year-old Cruzita Leon, charging her with the "sale of lethal fentanyl," marking a significant enforcement action under recently enacted legislation.

The case began in November 2024 when law enforcement responded to a report of an unresponsive man in the area of Southern Avenue and Hawes Road. The man, identified as 49-year-old Todd Gordon, was transported to a hospital where he succumbed to acute fentanyl intoxication days later. Investigators uncovered text messages exchanged between Gordon and Leon, indicating a transaction for fentanyl on the day of his overdose.

The new law, ARS 13-3424, came into effect in Mesa in November 2024. It classifies the sale of fentanyl that results in another person's death as a class two felony, reflecting the state's commitment to tackling the opioid crisis and holding drug dealers accountable for their actions.

Cruzita Leon is notably the first individual to face arrest for violating this law in Mesa, according to police officials. In addition to the charge related to fentanyl sale, she was booked for multiple felony offenses, underscoring the severity of the situation and the law's intended deterrent effect.

This arrest highlights the ongoing efforts in Mesa to combat the devastating impact of fentanyl and related drugs, as authorities continue to prioritize public safety and wellbeing in the face of a growing drug crisis.