Former Democratic Donor Ed Buck Ordered to Pay $2M to Victim's Mother

Jury finds Buck liable for wrongful death in overdose case, as he serves 30-year federal sentence for sex and drug crimes.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A federal jury has ordered former Democratic donor Ed Buck to pay $2 million to the mother of Gemmel Moore, one of Buck's victims who died of a drug overdose in 2017. Buck was convicted in 2021 on nine felony counts, including distributing methamphetamine resulting in death, and is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence. The civil lawsuit accused Buck of engaging in unlawful and negligent conduct, wrongful death, sexual battery, and other charges related to his exploitation of vulnerable men through the use of drugs.

Why it matters

This case highlights the devastating consequences of Buck's predatory behavior and the failure of authorities to intervene sooner, despite numerous warning signs. It also raises questions about the role of money and influence in politics, as Buck was previously a prominent Democratic donor before his crimes came to light.

The details

Prosecutors accused Buck of plying men with drugs and then sexually assaulting them while they were unconscious or immobile. In the cases of Gemmel Moore and Tim Dean, Buck allegedly injected his victims with fatal amounts of methamphetamine. A parade of men testified that Buck would offer them extra money if they allowed him to inject them with drugs, in what prosecutors called a "carrot-and-stick approach." Buck also filmed many of the episodes and gave instructions to his victims on how to perform for the camera.

  • Gemmel Moore died in July 2017 inside Buck's apartment.
  • Tim Dean died in January 2019, also inside Buck's apartment.
  • Buck was arrested in September 2019 after another man, Dane Brown, managed to stagger out of Buck's apartment and call 911 after being injected with three doses of methamphetamine.
  • In 2021, federal prosecutors convicted Buck on nine felony counts, including distributing methamphetamine resulting in death.
  • The civil wrongful death lawsuit against Buck began on Monday, March 3, 2026, and the jury reached a verdict on Wednesday, March 5, 2026.

The players

Ed Buck

A former Democratic donor who was convicted in 2021 on nine felony counts, including distributing methamphetamine resulting in death, and is currently serving a 30-year federal prison sentence.

Gemmel Moore

One of Ed Buck's victims who died of a drug overdose in Buck's apartment in 2017.

LaTisha Nixon

The mother of Gemmel Moore, who filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Ed Buck and was awarded $2 million by a jury.

Tim Dean

Another one of Ed Buck's victims who died of a drug overdose in Buck's apartment in 2019.

Dane Brown

A man who survived being injected with three doses of methamphetamine by Ed Buck in 2019, leading to Buck's eventual arrest.

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What they’re saying

“There isn't a moment that goes by that I don't think about him. This verdict doesn't bring him back, but it gives me some peace knowing someone was finally held accountable for what happened to Gemmel.”

— LaTisha Nixon, Gemmel Moore's mother (Los Angeles Times)

What’s next

The judge in the civil lawsuit will determine the final amount of damages that Ed Buck must pay to LaTisha Nixon, Gemmel Moore's mother.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for greater accountability and oversight of powerful individuals who exploit vulnerable populations, as well as the importance of swift action by authorities to intervene and prevent further harm when warning signs are present.