Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty To Opioids Overdose Death

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — A Las Vegas man today pleaded guilty to distributing opioids that resulted in the overdose death of another person.

According to court documents and admissions made in court, Daniel Anguiano, 42, distributed counterfeit oxycodone pills — containing fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl — to a man who died after consuming the counterfeit pills. 

Fentanyl is classified as Schedule II controlled substances, and acetyl fentanyl is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug that is approximately 80-100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. A few milligrams of fentanyl, which is equivalent to a few grains of table salt, may be deadly. Acetyl fentanyl is an analog of fentanyl that is 10-15 times more potent than morphine. Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid that is a common drug of abuse.

Anguiano pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance, specifically fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon scheduled sentencing for September 13, 2021.

For the distribution of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl, Anguiano faces: (a) a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years imprisonment; and (b) a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a $10,000,000 fine.

Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel Neill for the DEA made the announcement.

This case is the product of an investigation by the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Sokolich is prosecuting the case.

###