Newberry Man Arrested in Connection to 2023 Drug-Induced Homicide Case
Alachua County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) deputies arrested Jason Vordenberg, 53, Monday on a warrant for drug possession with intent to sell, delivering a controlled substance near a school, and using a two-way communication device to commit a felony.
In March 2023, Vordenberg and his girlfriend, Amanda Copley, 48, sold oxycodone pills containing fentanyl to Shane Guzman, who overdosed and died.
The sworn complaint states that Vordenberg obtained the pills from a local dealer, Theo Whitfield, 61, and gave them to Copley to facilitate the sale to Guzman.
Vordenberg and Copley were 898 feet away from Newberry Elementary School when he gave her the pills.
The report states, “Guzman contacted Copley and questioned the legitimacy of the pills. Due to the pills being in a ‘busted up’ condition and being green in color, the pills seemed suspect to Guzman. Copley reassured Guzman that the pills were genuine. Guzman replied to Copley, ‘I trust you, I'm just checking,’ and then thanked Copley. Guzman was found deceased hours later within his residence.”
Police arrested Whitfield in September 2023 on drug distribution charges and his case is still moving through the court system.
In October 2023, police arrested Copley on a warrant for homicide. Two months ago she took a plea deal with prosecutors and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but she has since made a motion to revoke the deal, alleging she was pressured by her public defender.
Judge William Davis set Vordernberg’s bond at $225,000.
