Two fentanyl dealers have been sentenced to a combined 15 years in federal prison for their roles in the death of a 15-year-old Carrollton, Texas, girl who ingested counterfeit Percocet pills laced with fentanyl.
The sentences follow a detailed investigation by local law enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Lizbeth Prieto, 19, also known as Lizbeth Escamilla, and Cristian Lopez, 24, were charged in 2023 and pleaded guilty to their respective roles in the scheme.
Prieto was sentenced in April 2024 to seven years in prison for distributing a controlled substance to a person under 21. Lopez, who supplied the pills to Prieto, received an eight-year sentence in July 2024 for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
In June 2023, the teenage victim was found unresponsive in her Carrollton home. Paramedics transported her to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Investigators discovered 10 counterfeit pills marked “M30” on her dresser.
Lab tests confirmed the pills contained fentanyl. Evidence on the victim’s phone revealed Prieto had sold the pills for $100 the day before the fatal overdose.
Following the girl’s death, Carrollton Police conducted a sting operation. Undercover officers arranged to purchase similar pills from Prieto, who arrived at the meeting accompanied by Lopez. Both were arrested during the operation. In interviews, Prieto admitted selling the fatal pills, and Lopez confessed to supplying the drugs for her distribution.
DEA Special Agent Eduardo A. Chavez condemned the actions of the two, stating, “Selling poison in the form of fentanyl to our youth is one of the most treacherous and evil ways to hurt our community. To those who still continue to traffic fentanyl pills, DEA Dallas and our law enforcement partners…will find you and hold you accountable for your selfish actions.
The case underscores the devastating impact of fentanyl on communities and the aggressive approach law enforcement is taking to combat its distribution.
