A 24-year-old Mesa man received a nine-year prison term after pleading guilty to his role in the death of a Gilbert resident who was found dead  in his apartment after overdosing on fentanyl, authorities said Friday.

Dominik Israel Lopez also must serve three years of supervised release after his prison term for distributing fentanyl with death resulting, according to a release from the Arizona district of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner ruled the cause the Gilbert man’s death in March 2020 to be fentanyl toxicity.

Law enforcement investigators learned the victim had contacted Lopez using a messaging app called Whisper, the release stated.

The victim purchased four fentanyl pills for $40. The victim overdosed and died after taking one pill, officials said.

“At the end of every drug overdose death are countless victims,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “There are the dead, taken too early, families who lose loved ones, and communities slowly being torn apart. This sentence shows that the Department of Justice will pursue harsh penalties for all drug dealers.”

“The Gilbert Police Department works in close partnership with law enforcement agencies in the ongoing fight against illegal drugs, including holding accountable those whose actions result in death through drug distribution,” Gilbert Police Chief Michael Soelberg said.

“We remain steadfast in our relentless pursuit of those who victimize our community.”

Fentanyl is a man-made opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin. Two milligrams of fentanyl, an amount that fits on the tip of a pencil, is considered a potentially deadly dose, according to the release.

Fake pills laced with fentanyl are often sold on social media.

“The only safe medications are ones prescribed directly to you by a trusted medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated in the release.

For additional information and resources, including a Caregivers Fact Sheet, visit DEA.gov/onepill.

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