5 Years Later, Man Sentenced for Fentanyl Death of Olivia Patla

Lakota Wakley received the maximum sentence for selling the drug that killed Olivia Patla in 2021.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:27am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a single fentanyl pill against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conveying the dangerous and deadly nature of the drug.A single fentanyl pill, the deadly substance that claimed the life of Olivia Patla, now the focus of a family's quest for justice and change.Fresno Today

Five years after Olivia Patla's death from a fentanyl overdose, the man who sold her the fatal drug, Lakota Wakley, was sentenced to the maximum 5-year prison term. Olivia's family shared emotional statements in court, describing the immense pain they've endured since her passing. While the sentence was the maximum allowed, the family expressed that true justice has not been served, as no sentence can bring Olivia back. However, they take some solace in knowing that Olivia's tragic death has led to changes in laws around drug-related deaths.

Why it matters

This case highlights the devastating impact of the opioid crisis, particularly the rise of fentanyl-related overdoses, and the ongoing struggle for families to find justice and closure after losing a loved one to a drug-related death. It also underscores the need for stronger laws and enforcement to hold drug dealers accountable for the lives they destroy.

The details

Lakota Wakley pleaded no contest to selling the fentanyl pill that killed Olivia Patla on May 31, 2021. On Friday, Fresno County Superior Court Judge Raj Singh Badhesha sentenced Wakley to the maximum 5-year prison term, to be served consecutively after his current federal prison sentence. Before the sentencing, 165 letters from Olivia's family and friends were submitted to the court, which the judge said he personally read.

  • Olivia Patla died on May 31, 2021.
  • Lakota Wakley was sentenced on April 18, 2026, 5 years after Olivia's death.

The players

Lakota Wakley

A Clovis man who pleaded no contest to selling the fentanyl pill that killed Olivia Patla.

Olivia Patla

A young woman whose life was tragically cut short by a fentanyl overdose in 2021.

Rene Patla

Olivia's mother, who shared the immense pain and grief her family has endured since Olivia's passing.

Fresno County Judge Raj Singh Badhesha

The judge who sentenced Lakota Wakley to the maximum 5-year prison term.

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What they’re saying

“My family has a lifetime of a sentence, and we are going to survive and he may have broken us a little, but we are going to be stronger.”

— Rene Patla, Olivia's mother

“No sentence is going to bring the victim back and, in some circumstances, it will not ease the pain of the family, however, accountability is essential.”

— Fresno County Judge Raj Singh Badhesha

“We're not happy that was the max. Do we feel like justice was served, no, not really.”

— Rene Patla, Olivia's mother

“My siblings and I constantly have small highs and very bad lows and days when we feel very angry for no reason but the sense of our sister no longer being there with us.”

— Olivia's older brother

“It felt like somebody was taking the whole life out of me and my breath. I will never smile the way I smiled before she died.”

— Rene Patla, Olivia's mother

What’s next

With the passage of Proposition 36 in 2024, future cases involving the sale of illegal drugs that result in death could now lead to murder charges, which the Patla family hopes will provide greater accountability for drug dealers whose actions lead to the loss of life.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the devastating human toll of the opioid crisis, particularly the rise of fentanyl-related overdoses, and the ongoing struggle for families to find justice and closure after losing a loved one. While the maximum sentence was handed down, the Patla family's pain remains, highlighting the need for stronger laws and enforcement to hold drug dealers accountable and prevent such senseless loss of life.