Mesa fentanyl case believed to be 1st under new Arizona law

Cruzita Leon, 35, has been indicted for drug sales that resulted in the death of a man in what the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said is believed to be the first charge in the Valley under Arizona's new fentanyl law.

The law makes it a class 2 felony to knowingly sell fentanyl that causes another person’s death, according to an MCAO release.

In November 2024, Todd Gordon was taken to a hospital after being found unresponsive at home. Mesa police found text messages between Leon and the victim from earlier that day arranging a drug deal, authorities said.

“The victim asked for fentanyl powder because he said pills were not strong enough. In the text exchange, the two settled on a price, and the defendant gave suggestions to the victim on how to take fentanyl in powder form. Days later, Gordon was dead from a fentanyl overdose,” the release stated.

During the investigation, detectives arranged multiple undercover buys from the defendant for fentanyl powder and pills.

Leon is charged with one count of manslaughter, one count of selling lethal fentanyl, four counts of sale or transportation of narcotic drugs and one count of conspiracy to commit sale or transportation of narcotic drugs.

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