A Santa Clarita man was sentenced Friday to 17 1/2 years in federal prison in what’s considered the nation’s first criminal case involving a death caused by the synthetic opioid protonitazene.

Benjamin Anthony Collins, 22, pleaded guilty in June in downtown Los Angeles to a single federal count of distribution of protonitazene resulting in death, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Federal prosecutors contend the drug is up to three times more powerful than fentanyl.

According to the indictment, during the early morning hours of April 19, 2024, Collins sold pills laced with protonitazene, which resulted in the death of the victim. In recent years, protonitazene has been sold over the internet.

Collins also agreed to sell the 22-year-old victim a bulk supply of the pills in the fut

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