A Laredo resident has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of a teenager. Jose Antonio Carlos III, also known as Jose Carlos, pleaded guilty on January 4, 2024. U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal ordered Carlos to serve his sentence followed by three years of supervised release and pay $5,400 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani commented on the case, stating, “This case represents the tragic consequences of fentanyl’s infiltration into communities nationwide, a crisis that continues to devastate families, overwhelm healthcare systems and claim lives at an alarming rate.” He emphasized the importance of addressing sources and networks distributing fentanyl to disrupt its cycle of devastation.
The incident dates back to May 17, 2023, when authorities responded to an overdose call at a home in Laredo. They found a 15-year-old victim unresponsive with a rolled-up dollar bill containing white powder later identified as fentanyl. A toxicology report confirmed the cause of death as fentanyl toxicity.
Investigations revealed text messages between Carlos and the victim discussing the purchase of "pase," code for cocaine. On May 16, 2023, Carlos handed over a small baggie with white powder to the victim at an address off Longoria Loop.
The following morning, the victim's aunt discovered him unresponsive after entering his room through a window. Law enforcement pronounced him dead at the scene.
Carlos admitted selling "pase" to the victim and acknowledged sending a follow-up text asking about its quality on May 17, 2023.
The investigation was conducted by several agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Bajew and Leslie Cortez prosecuted this case under an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations.
Carlos will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.