U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani | U.S. Department of Justice
A Houston man, Marco Juarez, 37, has been sentenced to a decade in prison for his involvement in an illegal pill manufacturing and distribution operation. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Juarez had previously pleaded guilty on June 16, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Gray Miller handed down the sentence of 120 months imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release. This case involved other co-conspirators from Houston who also pleaded guilty and were sentenced earlier. Alexander Fernandez, identified as the leader, received a 20-year sentence; Christopher Houser was sentenced to 36 months; and Alexis Sandoval received a term of 120 months.
Judge Miller emphasized the gravity of distributing pills that were misrepresented as Adderall but actually contained methamphetamine. "These conspirators manufactured and distributed large quantities of fake Adderall pills that actually contained meth in order to make money at the expense of the health and safety of others," said Hamdani.
The operation was uncovered through an investigation revealing that Fernandez ordered equipment commonly used in illicit pill production starting in 2020. The ring operated out of local residences in Houston Heights and later moved to two locations in Fulshear.
Fernandez managed logistics while Juarez supplied methamphetamine for production. Houser operated pill press machines, and Sandoval handled packaging and mailing orders placed via the dark web.
In October 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at one Fulshear location uncovering approximately seven kilograms of "ice" methamphetamine along with four kilograms of meth-laced Adderall pills and powder. Another location yielded nearly five kilograms of Adderall pills ready for shipment.
The group also produced "Alprazolam" pills containing Etizolam, known for its sedative effects.
Juarez will remain on bond until he surrenders to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility yet to be determined.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations with support from the Drug Enforcement Administration, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen M. Lansden prosecuted the case.
