A Beaumont man has been sentenced to a decade in federal prison for possessing fentanyl, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. Joe Anthony Garcia, 28, admitted guilt to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and received a 120-month sentence from U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on January 23, 2025.
Court records reveal that on May 19, 2022, law enforcement responded to a shooting report on Avenue E in Beaumont. Officers discovered at least 16 bullet holes in the front door of Garcia's residence and found him inside with gunshot wounds to his chest and hip. Narcotics were visible throughout the house. After obtaining a search warrant, additional narcotics were found, including over 1,200 pills in the bathroom which contained approximately 156 grams of fentanyl.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a Public Safety Alert about the rising lethality and availability of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. This alert aligns with DEA’s One Pill Can Kill Public Awareness Campaign aimed at educating the public about counterfeit pill dangers and encouraging Americans to only take medications prescribed by professionals and dispensed by licensed pharmacists. The campaign seeks to address a nationwide increase in fake pills produced by criminal networks that are causing unprecedented fatalities among unsuspecting Americans.
The case was investigated by the Beaumont Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Quinn.