Updated on Sept. 19 at 2:45 p.m.

Federal authorities announced on Sept. 19 that West Hollywood resident Ed Buck was charged with one count of distribution of methamphetamine resulting in death in a case involving 26-year-old Gemmel Moore, who died of an overdose in Buck’s apartment in 2017.

A criminal complaint was filed on the evening of Sept. 18 alleging that Buck provided methamphetamine that directly resulted in Moore’s death. Buck was taken into federal custody on Sept. 19.

The criminal complaint further alleges that another man – Timothy Dean – died in Buck’s apartment from a drug overdose in January, and that Buck provided narcotics to other men, one of whom suffered two overdoses earlier this month.

The federal charges were announced two days after the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office filed three charges against Buck including one count each of battery causing serious injury, administering methamphetamine and maintaining a drug house. Those charges relate to a man who survived an alleged Sept. 11 overdose at Buck’s apartment.

If Buck is convicted of the federal charges, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life without parole.

Original article published on Sept. 18 at 4:16 p.m.

West Hollywood resident and prominent political donor and activist Ed Buck, who was scrutinized over the past two years for the deaths of two men from drug overdoses in his Laurel Avenue apartment, was arrested on Sept. 17 and charged with three felonies after a third man allegedly overdosed on drugs last week in his residence.

Buck, 65, was charged with one felony count each of battery causing serious injury, administering methamphetamine and maintaining a drug house. The charges stem from the Sept. 11 overdose of a 37-year-old man who survived and is recovering. Buck allegedly injected the man, who is described as John Doe in a criminal complaint filed against the defendant, with methamphetamine.

The Sept. 11 overdose occurred after Timothy Dean, 55, died in Buck’s apartment on Jan. 7, and 26-year-old Gemmel Moore died there in 2017. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office determined both Dean and Moore died of methamphetamine overdoses, and the deaths were ruled accidental. Authorities allegedly found drug paraphernalia in the apartment at 1234 N. Laurel Ave. following both overdoses and investigated Buck for the deaths. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office determined there was insufficient evidence to charge Buck with any crimes. However, based on information obtained from the victim of the third overdose, District Attorney Jackie Lacey decided to charge Buck with three felonies.

“I remain deeply concerned for the safety of people whose life circumstances may make them more vulnerable to criminal predators,” Lacey said in a statement. “With this new evidence, I authorized the filing of criminal charges against Ed Buck.”

In court papers filed with the criminal complaint, prosecutors allege that Buck is a “violent, dangerous sexual predator” and that he “mainly preys on men made vulnerable by addiction and homelessness.” The court papers also state that “using the bait of narcotics, money and shelter, the defendant lures these vulnerable victims to his home. From his home, in a position of power, Buck manipulates his victims into participating in his sexual fetishes. These fetishes include supplying and personally administering dangerously large doses of narcotics to his victims.”

The court papers also state that Buck “personally and dangerously administered” a large dose of methamphetamine into the victim who survived on Sept. 4. The man allegedly fled Buck’s apartment and sought medical attention. On Sept. 11, the man returned to Buck’s apartment, and the defendant injected him with two “dangerously large” doses on methamphetamine. When the victim exhibited symptoms of an overdose, Buck allegedly refused to render aid, according to court papers. The victim fled the apartment and called 911 from a nearby gas station.

The criminal complaint filed against Buck alleges that he unlawfully possessed and administered methamphetamine to the victim, and that he maintained a place “for the purpose of unlawfully selling, giving away and using a controlled substance.”

Buck’s attorney Seymour Amster did not return requests for comment. Prosecutors called for Buck to be held in custody in lieu of $4 million bail.

Dean and Moore are mentioned in the court papers, and prosecutors allege that Buck’s behavior led to their deaths, but authorities have not filed any charges relating to those incidents. The Moore family has filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit against Buck, and the case is pending.

Activist and victim’s advocate Jasmyne Cannick, a spokeswoman for the Moore family, said the charges validate their claim that Buck is a predator.

“We’re just completely ecstatic,” Cannick said. “I feel vindicated for all the people who said it was never going to happen. I feel really good for all the young men he took advantage of, because they didn’t feel like anyone took them seriously, like their lives weren’t important enough for anyone to really care about.”

Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA) issued a statement about the arrest and charges.

“It’s incomprehensible to me that it took a third man to be attacked and almost die to finally dissolve the unconscionable apathy that has allowed Ed Buck, a racist sexual predator, to roam free. Everyone knew that he preyed on young black men – two died in his apartment. The inaction in response had a message was loud and clear: black gay lives obviously didn’t matter,” Bass said. “There was an absence of justice when Gemmel Moore was killed. Timothy Dean paid for that egregious dereliction of judicial duty with his life. There was an absence of justice when Timothy Dean was killed. More young men nearly paid for that egregious dereliction of judicial duty with their lives. For Gemmel, Timothy and the other young men, [Buck’s] arrest is too little, too late. Now, finally, thanks to the tireless work of advocates and a community that has had enough, Los Angeles is a safer place for black gay men. The court system must now do its job. Justice must finally be served.”

Buck’s arraignment was originally scheduled for Sept. 18, but it was likely to be postponed until the following day, said District Attorney’s office spokesman Greg Risling. Buck faces a possible maximum sentence of five years and eight months in state prison.