A federal jury found a Lompoc man guilty of aiding and abetting the distribution of fentanyl that resulted in the death of one Santa Barbara County Jail inmate and harmed a second one 16 months ago.

During the five-day trial, federal prosecutors presented evidence that Kaelen Jacobkeali Wendel, 32, smuggled fentanyl into a unit of the Northern Branch Jail near Santa Maria in October 2022, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Wendel packaged the powerful synthetic opioid in candy containers, according to court documents.

He handed some fentanyl to his co-defendant, Michael Villapania, 36, of Lompoc, in the expectation that he would receive jail commissary goods in exchange. 

Villapania then sold the drug to a victim identified in court documents as “J.V,” who then shared the fentanyl with another victim, referred to as “E.E.”

After ingesting the drug during the early morning hours of Oct. 20, 2022, the two inmates overdosed.

Another inmate alerted staff about the overdose, leading deputies and nurses to administer multiple doses of Narcan – a life-saving medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. They also performed CPR on both inmates, reviving one. 

Days after the incident, county officials identified the inmate who died as Edgar Mescua Estrada, 37, also known as Edgar Estrada Amezcua, from Santa Maria.

In May 2023, federal officials said the two Lompoc men were among defendants for a dozen cases targeting fentanyl dealers.

U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Firming scheduled a June 21 sentencing hearing for Wendel. 

After being found guilty of one felony count of distributing fentanyl resulting in death and serious bodily injury, Wendell faces a 20-year mandatory minimum prison sentence and a possible sentence of life imprisonment.

Villapania pleaded guilty on Feb. 1 to one count of distributing fentanyl. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 7, when he will face up to 20 years in federal prison.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office investigated this matter, federal officials said.