LOS ANGELES – A jury has found Palmdale resident Jordan Nicholas McCormick, 31, guilty of federal drug trafficking and firearm crimes, including the distribution of fentanyl-laced oxycodone pills that led to the fatal overdose of an active-duty U.S. Marine Corps lance corporal. The Justice Department announced the verdict on Thursday after a 17-day trial.
McCormick was convicted of six felonies: conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death, distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, distribution of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute LSD, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Evidence showed McCormick engaged in a drug trafficking conspiracy from October 2019 to September 2020, selling LSD, fake Adderall pills laced with methamphetamine, and thousands of fake fentanyl-laced oxycodone pills. Communications for the drug business were conducted via text messages and Snapchat.
On May 21, 2020, McCormick texted a co-conspirator, “I’m seeing my oxy guy today he has a boat,” referring to 1,000 purported oxycodone pills. The next day, he sold these pills to the co-conspirator, who then posted on Snapchat, “Who f*** with M30s? Tapp in.” Later that night, the co-conspirator sold about 10 pills to a 20-year-old Marine, identified as “L.M.,” who died on May 23, 2020, after consuming them.
Investigators later arrested the co-conspirator and seized narcotics and firearms, including a “ghost gun.” In September 2020, law enforcement executed search warrants on McCormick, seizing drug trafficking materials, methamphetamine, LSD, and a 9mm Glock pistol. McCormick faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years and a maximum of life imprisonment at sentencing.