Fentanyl Trafficker Linked to Fatal Overdose Sentenced

The drug dealer who sold the fentanyl that killed an Abilene man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.

Elijah James Perez, 21, pleaded guilty in September 2023 to distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death or serious bodily injury. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix.

According to plea papers, Mr. Perez admitted that he sold fentanyl to a victim, identified in court documents as J.W., on Feb. 11, 2022.

The following day, J.W. was found nonresponsive in his bed. After 40 minutes of attempted resuscitation, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses told law enforcement they believed J.W. had ingested Percocet, but an autopsy found that J.W. died from the toxic effects of fentanyl.

According to plea papers, Mr. Perez admitted that approximately three days before J.W.’s death, Mr. Perez offered to sell him “5 percs.” Three days later, Mr. Perez met with J.W. outside his home around 10 p.m. to make the sale. The pills contained fentanyl.

Six minutes later, J.W. texted his girlfriend that he’d received some “percs” that were “hella strong.” Hours later, he was dead of an overdose.

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Office and the Abilene Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Tusing prosecuted the case.

Note: Illicitly produced, fentanyl-laced pills often look similar to legitimate prescription pills like Oxycontin or Percocet, but can pose significantly more danger. On the street, these pills are often referred to as “M30s” (a reference to the markings on some of the pills), “blues,” “perks,” “yerks,” “china girls,” or “TNT.” DEA research shows that six out of ten pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. One pill can kill. For resources, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.