Young dealer charged with selling fentanyl resulting in death

LAREDO, Texas – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against a 22-year-old resident of Laredo for distributing fentanyl which caused the death of a juvenile, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Authorities arrested Jose Antonio Carlos III today. He is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos Aug. 25 at 9:30 a.m.

The two-count indictment, returned Aug. 22, alleges Carlos distributed fentanyl, a schedule II controlled substance, to another individual May 16. That person was a juvenile who subsequently died after using the drug, according to the charges.

Carlos is also charged with one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.

If convicted of the distribution resulting in death, Carlos faces up life in federal prison with a mandatory minimum of 20 years. He could also be ordered to pay up to a $1 million fine.

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

This case is being prosecuted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (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

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.