Damien Diggs U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas
A Beaumont man, Joe Anthony Garcia, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on January 23, 2025, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.
The case against Garcia stems from a May 19, 2022 incident when law enforcement officers responded to a shooting on Avenue E in Beaumont. Officers discovered Garcia inside the home with gunshot wounds and observed narcotics visible throughout the residence. A subsequent search revealed over 1,200 pills containing approximately 156 grams of fentanyl.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a Public Safety Alert highlighting an increase in lethal fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. This alert is part of the DEA's One Pill Can Kill Public Awareness Campaign aimed at educating the public about the dangers of counterfeit pills and encouraging Americans to only take medications prescribed by healthcare professionals and dispensed by licensed pharmacists.
The investigation was conducted by the Beaumont Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Quinn prosecuting the case.
