San Diego City Attorney Mara W. Elliott announced today that defendant Fraidoon Ahmad was sentenced to 240 days in custody for furnishing alcohol to a minor. The minor subsequently drove while intoxicated and crashed her vehicle, killing her passenger. Judge Carlos Varela presided in this case. The tragedy unfolded on February 17, 2017, when 19-year-old Yolanda Lozano and her best friend since 6th grade, 19-year-old UCSD freshman Mabel Bahena, met with Ahmad at the Myst Hookah Lounge in the Gaslamp Quarter. Lozano had responded to Ahmad’s ad seeking employees for a cannabis-related business and met him at the lounge for a job interview. Ahmad furnished the underage women with wine and tequila. Later, at his apartment in the East Village, he served them more alcohol. When the young women left Ahmad’s residence, Lozano drove under the influence of alcohol and plowed into a truck on I-15. Bahena was killed in the accident. “Mabel Bahena’s young life was cut short, and a family was devastated, by defendant’s reckless actions,” City Attorney Mara W. Elliott said. “We hope this sentence sends a clear message that there will be severe consequences for adults who provide alcohol to minors.” Ahmad pleaded guilty on May 13 to furnishing alcohol to a minor causing great bodily injury and death and furnishing alcohol to a person under the age of 21. In addition to 240 days of custody, he was sentenced to three years’ probation and nine days of work service. Lozano was charged by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. She pleaded guilty in July 2017 and was sentenced to 365 days in custody. During the trial, Bahena’s family asked the judge for leniency for Lozano, due to her close friendship with their daughter. Ahmad was prosecuted by Chief Deputy City Attorney Mark Skeels of the City Attorney’s Special Prosecutions Unit on behalf of the People of the State of California.