A fentanyl sale that killed a man in Thousand Oaks in 2023 has led to a second-degree murder charge against a Torrance resident.
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced Friday, Oct. 30, that Thomas James Syslo has been held to answer on the murder charge and four additional felonies, according to a Ventura County District Attorney's Office press release. The victim was identified as Freddy Dijor.
Syslo allegedly sold fentanyl to Dijor on Aug. 4, 2023. Dijor used the drug and died the same day, the DA's office said. The Ventura County Medical Examiner determined Dijor would not have died but for the fentanyl.
A Ventura County Superior Court judge found sufficient evidence to hold Syslo on all charges and aggravating factors on Wednesday, Oct. 28, after hearing testimony from the Medical Examiner, a Ventura County Sheriff's Office crime analyst, an eyewitness and law enforcement officers.
Search turned up fentanyl, $400,000 in Pokémon cards
On Sept. 8, 2023, detectives from the Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VC FOCUS) served a search warrant at Syslo's residence. Investigators seized approximately 28 gross grams of fentanyl packaged for sale, a working digital scale and more than $12,000 in cash, the DA's office said.
They also seized 383 professionally graded and authenticated Pokémon cards valued at approximately $400,000.
Investigators from the DA's Bureau of Investigation allege Syslo engaged in money laundering over several years by buying and selling high-value collectible Pokémon cards to conceal proceeds from narcotics trafficking. He faces two counts of money laundering in addition to the murder charge, a charge of selling fentanyl and a charge of possession of fentanyl for sale.
Arrest came in January
VC FOCUS detectives arrested Syslo near his Torrance residence on Jan. 22. He remains in custody with bail set at $1 million.
Special allegations in the case include that the crimes indicated planning, sophistication or professionalism, that Syslo induced another person to participate, and that he has prior convictions. Prosecutors also allege offenses in multiple jurisdictions.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Audry Nafziger is prosecuting the case.
Syslo is scheduled to be arraigned on the information on Nov. 13 in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court.
Case follows county's first fentanyl murder conviction
The case follows Ventura County's first fentanyl murder conviction. On Sept. 1, the DA's office announced that Charity Faith Wiley of Reseda was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison for the second-degree murder of Devin Kastler, who died after overdosing on fentanyl and xylazine, according to a separate DA press release.
In 2025, the Ventura County Medical Examiner reported 216 overdose deaths. Fentanyl or a mixture of fentanyl and other drugs was found in 134 of those cases, according to the DA's office.
Residents can find fentanyl safety information, addiction resources and overdose rescue kit locations at ThinkAgainVC.com, as cited by the DA's office.
