A man from Mount Pleasant, Texas has been convicted of federal drug trafficking charges after being found guilty of distributing fentanyl-laced pills that resulted in the deaths of at least two people. Jaquavion Markeith Veasley, 36, was found guilty on five counts related to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death or serious bodily injury. The verdict was delivered by a jury on February 4, 2026, following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle.
Court records showed that beginning in 2023, Veasley conspired with others to distribute illegal narcotics laced with fentanyl. This led to the deaths of two individuals.
U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs stated, “The law designates illicit fentanyl as a narcotic, but illicit fentanyl is also a weapon of mass destruction. Veasley’s greed turned the fentanyl he sold into a deadly weapon which destroyed two lives and forever altered the lives of the victims’ families. In the Eastern District of Texas, we cherish our duty to defend this great nation and its citizens. Those who spread this poison in our communities should be on notice that we will not stand for it.”
Special Agent in Charge Brian Garner of ATF’s Dallas Field Division said, “This conviction underscores that federal drug trafficking is not a victimless crime, it is inherently violent and deadly. The distribution of fentanyl fuels addiction, drives violent crime, and destroys families and communities. ATF will continue to work alongside our federal, state, and local partners to target those who traffic in these lethal substances and hold them fully accountable under federal law.”
Chief of Police Mark Buhman from Mount Pleasant Police Department added, “The Mount Pleasant Police Department is committed to actively pursuing those responsible for causing the deaths of others through the distribution of narcotics. We are thankful for the support of our fellow partners in law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work in holding Veasley accountable.”
Veasley faces a minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life in federal prison when sentenced by the court at a later date following a presentence investigation.
The case forms part of an initiative led by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), created under Executive Order 14159: Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF coordinates government agencies against criminal cartels and organizations involved in crimes such as human smuggling within the United States.
The investigation involved cooperation between multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Texas Department of Public Safety; and Mount Pleasant Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucas Machicek and Emil Mikkelsen prosecuted the case.
