Woman Pleads in UMF Death
A woman charged in connection with the drug overdose death of a 24 year old Georgia woman who attended the Ultra Music Festival in Miami has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and will avoid prison time.
Carmen Lo pleaded guilty Tuesday to unlawful use of a communication device and was sentenced to five years of probation as part of the agreement, according to court records and local reports. Lo had originally faced a charge of conspiracy to commit first degree murder in connection with the death of Jenniha T. Le.
Woman Died After Taking MDMA
Le traveled to Miami with her partner, Hannah Le Nguyen, to attend Ultra Music Festival at Bayfront Park in March 2025. Authorities said Le collapsed after taking MDMA, also known as ecstasy or Molly.
Le was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she was admitted to intensive care. An autopsy determined that she died from acute MDMA toxicity on March 31, 2025, one day after she collapsed at the festival.
Prosecutors Traced the Drug Through Multiple People
According to investigators, Lo played a role in connecting Le Nguyen with an alleged drug supplier. Authorities said Lo introduced Le Nguyen to Charlene Forti, who prosecutors allege sold the MDMA pill that ultimately reached Le.
Investigators said Forti allegedly arranged to sell the pill for $35. Authorities allege the drug was passed through another person, An Tan Ly, before reaching Le Nguyen and ultimately Le.
Lo was initially among four people charged in connection with the death. Prosecutors’ decision to resolve her case with a probationary sentence follows earlier plea agreements involving two other defendants.
Other Defendants Also Received Plea Deals
Le Nguyen and Ly were previously charged with possession of a controlled substance. Both received plea agreements in March that resulted in five years of probation, according to NBC Miami.
Lo’s plea deal makes her the third of the four people charged in the case to resolve her criminal charges through a plea agreement.
The remaining defendant, Forti, continues to face the most serious charges in the case. She has pleaded not guilty and remains under house arrest while awaiting trial.
Main Defendant Still Faces Murder Charges
Forti, 27, is accused of selling the MDMA pill to Le Nguyen. Prosecutors have charged her with murder, conspiracy to commit murder and unlawful use of a two way communications device.
Although Forti was indicted on a first degree murder charge, prosecutors have said they will not seek the death penalty. Her next hearing is scheduled for October 13.
Forti’s attorney, Richard Cooper, has criticized the prosecution’s handling of the case and questioned why other people connected to the alleged drug transaction received plea deals while his client remains facing a murder prosecution.
Case Continues as Miami Confronts Festival Drug Risks
The case has drawn attention to the risks associated with illicit drugs at major music festivals and the legal consequences that can follow when an overdose results in death.
Ultra Music Festival organizers have said they maintain a zero tolerance policy toward illegal substances and cooperate with law enforcement on security and drug awareness efforts.
With Lo now sentenced to probation and two other defendants having already resolved their cases, the criminal prosecution increasingly centers on Forti, who remains accused of supplying the drug that prosecutors say ultimately led to Le’s fatal overdose.
The charges against Forti remain allegations unless and until proven beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
