Drug networking

Six young men were busted in Chico for allegedly selling drugs to undercover officers during a sting operation on Thursday (Oct. 30). All of the transactions were initiated through FADE, a social media app for college students, and completed in the south campus neighborhood.

Officers from the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force and the Chico Police Department participated in the sting, according to a police press release. Four of the six suspects—Phillip Wayne Baker (20), Ellis James Lindenthal (18), Wesly Keith Murphy (19) and David James O’Callaghan (22)—were college students living in Chico. Baker, Lindenthal and O’Callaghan were arrested on marijuana-related charges, while Murphy was booked for criminal conspiracy.

Geoffrey Tyler O’Brien (19) of Orland was arrested for selling ecstasy, and Kenyatta Eric Traylor (19) of Berkeley was arrested for selling ecstasy and cocaine, among other charges.