Arrest Made in Fentanyl Poisoning Death

Arrest stems from Palm Desert man who died of Fentanyl Poisoning

PALM DESERT — A 37-year-old Palm Desert man has been arrested in connection with the death of a 30-year-old Palm Desert man who died of Fentanyl Poisoning, according to Master Investigator Robert Cornett.

The arrest stems from an incident on Sept. 26, 2022, Deputies responded to the 46900 block of State Highway 74 in Palm Desert regarding a deceased male.

Palm Desert Station Deputies arrived and found the victim deceased from a suspected Fentanyl Poisoning. Palm Desert Station Deputies conducted the initial investigation and turned over the investigation to the Special Investigations Bureau-Overdose Death Investigations / Narcotics team (ODIN).

Following a several-monthslong investigation, resident Gregory Gauto was identified as the suspect.

On June 6, charges were filed with the District Attorney’s Office against Gauto for second-degree homicide. On June 7, 2023, Gauto was arrested in Palm Desert for homicide and booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio.

This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Master Investigator Cornett at 951-955-1700. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department wants to remind citizens of the dangers of illicit narcotics that contain fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 100 times stronger than morphine and can cause death or serious bodily harm.