Drug lord Erick Oved Estrada responsible for TikTok star Cooper Noriega's fatal overdose has been arraigned
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Erick Oved Estrada, a 35-year-old man from Calabasas, was arrested and charged with federal narcotics offenses on Tuesday, November 21, in connection with the death of TikToker Cooper Noriega from a fentanyl overdose in 2022.
Estrada, also known as 'Franco Sanchez' and 'Eric Freddy Hook', is accused of operating a same-day drug delivery service dealing in cocaine and fentanyl-laced oxycodone from his home.
Alongside Estrada, three others, including his wife Zoila Michelle Estrada, 36, Arian Alani, 34, and Gilberto Marquez, 34, were also arrested. Alani is specifically alleged to have distributed the fentanyl-laced pills responsible for Noriega’s overdose in June 2022.
Law enforcement is actively searching for two additional suspects, Tomas Marquez-Ruiz, 37, known as 'El Cafecito', and Caseya Chanel Brown, 39, known as 'Mom', in connection with the case.
What are the charges against Erick Oved Estrada?
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, Erick Estrada, Tomas Marquez-Ruiz, Gilberto Marquez, and Caseya Chanel Brown are facing charges that include one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death, and one count of distribution of cocaine.
Erick Estrada is additionally charged with two more counts of distributing cocaine, one count of distributing fentanyl resulting in death, and 11 counts of money laundering.
The other two accomplices, Arian Alani, and Zoila Estrada, are each charged with different offenses: Alani with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, and Zoila Estrada with one count of money laundering.
How did Cooper Noriega die?
Cooper Noriega, a social media influencer, died from a drug overdose in June 2022.
In an indictment returned on November 15, he was identified as 'CN' TMZ reported that Noriega's father confirmed the victim was his son, Cooper.
According to court documents, from May 2019 to June 2022, Erick Estrada obtained narcotics, including cocaine and purported fentanyl-laced oxycodone pills. Estrada, with the help of Tomas Marquez-Ruiz and Gilberto Marquez, then distributed these drugs through a network that included drug delivery drivers like Caseya Chanel Brown.
These drivers, including Brown, delivered the drugs directly to customers and collected payments. On June 8, 2022, Estrada allegedly sold 25 oxycodone pills, which actually contained fentanyl, to Arian Alani through one of these delivery drivers.
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On June 9, 2022, Alani sold the fentanyl-laced pills to the victim - identified as 'CN'. Noriega then ingested those drugs which caused his fatal overdose.
On June 10, Alani confronted Estrada over a text message and said, “My boy just died yesterday” while slamming him saying Estrada “[s]houldn’t be selling [expletive] with fentanyl.”
Estrada and his wife laundered the money generated from the drug business and used it for various personal expenses including luxury vehicles.