Local drug dealer admits to selling “China White”

LAREDO, Texas – A 38-year-old resident of Laredo has entered a guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

On May 26, authorities executed a search warrant at Jose Pedro Garcia’s residence. At that time, they found multiple small plastic baggies, each containing various types of suspected narcotics. Authorities seized, separated, weighed and ultimately identified them as heroin, meth, cocaine base and fentanyl.

Garcia had been selling drugs for approximately 10 years and had sold meth, crack cocaine and “China White” aka fentanyl. Garcia admitted he started with cocaine, but moved on to fentanyl because it gave people a stronger high and was more popular. He had color coded the bags so he could differentiate between the drugs.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing Nov. 7. At that time, Garcia faces a minimum of five and up to 40 years in prison as well as a maximum $5 million fine. Garcia will remain in custody pending that hearing.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol and Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Bajew is prosecuting the case.

The case was prosecuted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF is the largest anti-crime task force in the country. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

More information on the dangers of fentanyl can be found on the DEA’s website. #OnePillCanKill