LAREDO Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in death of a 15-Year-Old

LAREDO, Texas – A 22-year-old Laredo resident, Jose Antonio Carlos III, widely known as Jose Carlos, has pleaded guilty to the distribution of fentanyl, which tragically led to the death of a 15-year-old. This announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani, who expressed his concerns regarding the devastating impact of fentanyl.

The incident occurred on May 17, 2023, when authorities responded to an overdose call at a residence in Laredo. Upon arriving at the scene, they found the victim lying unresponsive in his bed. Clutched in his hand was a rolled-up dollar bill tainted with a white powder that was later confirmed to be fentanyl. Subsequent toxicology reports and an autopsy solidified fentanyl toxicity as the cause of death.

Further investigation uncovered incriminating text messages that revealed the victim’s intention to purchase “pase” from Carlos. It was discovered that “pase” was used as a code word for cocaine, with Carlos providing the price and an address on Longoria Loop.

On the evening of May 16, 2023, an individual drove the victim to the specified address. At the location, Carlos handed the victim a small baggie containing a white powder. The driver then dropped off the victim at his home, where he resided with his aunt.

The following morning, the victim’s aunt heard his phone ringing. Assuming her nephew had overslept, she attempted to wake him by knocking on his door, but received no response. Unable to open the door, she decided to enter the room through one of the bedroom windows.

Upon entering the room, the aunt discovered her nephew lying face down on the bed. When she touched him, she realized that his body had become stiff and cold. Law enforcement was alerted and promptly arrived at the scene, where they pronounced the victim dead.

As part of his guilty plea, Carlos confessed to selling “pase” to the victim. He also admitted sending a text message to the victim the following day, inquiring about the quality of the drugs.

Hamdani expressed his disappointment in Carlos’ actions, emphasizing the tragic result of his decision to engage in the illicit drug trade. He stated, “Carlos’ decision to sell illicit drugs caused the death of a 15-year-old child. Tragically, this case illustrates that no person, regardless of age, is safe from fentanyl’s deadly grip. As long as drug dealers choose to ply their illicit trade, families will continue to bear the devastating loss of their loved ones.”

Sentencing for Carlos will be determined by U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo at a later date. If convicted, Carlos could face a minimum sentence of 20 years up to life in federal prison, in addition to a potential fine of up to $1 million.

Carlos will remain in custody until the sentencing hearing is held.

Collaborative efforts between the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol, Laredo Police Department, and Webb County Sheriff’s Office, along with the assistance of the Webb County Medical Examiner, were instrumental in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Bajew and Leslie Cortez are leading the prosecution.

This case is being prosecuted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF is the largest anti-crime task force in the United States, identifying, disrupting, and dismantling high-level criminal organizations that pose a threat to the country. For more information on the OCDETF Program, visit the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

To learn more about the dangers of fentanyl, please visit the DEA’s website. Remember, #OnePillCanKill.