U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani | U.S. Department of Justice
A Laredo resident, Jose Antonio Carlos III, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl to a teenager, resulting in the youth's death. U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced the sentencing after Carlos pleaded guilty on January 4, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal handed down the sentence of 240 months, followed by three years of supervised release and ordered Carlos to pay $5,400 in restitution. The court acknowledged the tragic circumstances of the case, noting that the victim was only 15 years old.
“This case represents the tragic consequences of fentanyl’s infiltration into communities nationwide," said Hamdani. "By addressing the sources and networks that distribute this lethal substance, we aim to disrupt the cycle of devastation and send a clear message: those who endanger public safety for personal gain will face justice.”
The incident occurred on May 17, 2023, when authorities responded to an overdose call at a home in Laredo. They found the victim unresponsive with a rolled-up dollar bill containing white powder later identified as fentanyl. A toxicology report confirmed fentanyl toxicity as the cause of death.
Investigations revealed text messages between Carlos and the victim discussing purchasing “pase,” a code for cocaine. On May 16, 2023, Carlos provided an address where he handed over a small baggie with white powder to the victim.
The following morning, after failing to get a response from her nephew's room, his aunt discovered him deceased inside his bedroom.
Carlos admitted during his plea that he sold “pase” to the victim and had sent a follow-up text asking about its quality.
Carlos remains in custody awaiting transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection among others. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Bajew and Leslie Cortez prosecuted this case under an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations.
Further information on fentanyl dangers is available on DEA’s website under #OnePillCanKill campaign.
