In a federal courtroom today, three individuals were sentenced to a total of 35 years in prison for their involvement in a drug conspiracy linked to the deaths of three teenagers in north Texas. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Leigha Simonton.
Jason Xavier Villanueva, 23, Robert Alexander Gaitan, 20, and Rafael Soliz, Jr., 23, were indicted in March 2023. In June 2023, Villanueva and Soliz pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to fentanyl distribution, and in July 2023, Gaitan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess and distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade sentenced Villanueva to 15 years, Gaitan to 5 years, and Soliz to 15 years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Simonton emphasized the tragic impact of the defendants' actions, stating that children in the community lost their lives, and others faced life-threatening situations due to the distribution of fentanyl. Simonton expressed pride in the prosecutors and law enforcement partners for their dedication in bringing the individuals to justice, sending a clear message about the consequences of distributing the deadly drug.
DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge, Eduardo A. Chávez, stressed the devastating effects of drug trafficking and abuse, noting that nobody truly won in this situation. He affirmed the DEA's commitment to pursuing those distributing illicit fentanyl while supporting the families affected by substance abuse.
Carrollton Police Department Chief Roberto Arredondo echoed the sentiment, stating that justice was served and reaffirming the commitment to addressing the national crisis of drug abuse. Arredondo thanked law enforcement partners, including the DEA Dallas Field Office, and acknowledged the efforts of school resource officers in combating the issue.
In court documents, it was revealed that Villanueva distributed over 200,000 fentanyl pills to north Texas customers in five or six months, selling at a rate of approximately 40,000 pills per month. The pills, marked as M-30, were distributed to juvenile and adult dealers, including Gaitan and Soliz, who further sold them in Carrollton. Villanueva was identified as a primary source of counterfeit M30 pills.
During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors discussed several overdoses, including three fatalities among children aged 13 to 17. The defendants were aware of the ages of the students they sold to and the presence of fentanyl in the pills.
A total of ten individuals have been charged in connection to the drug conspiracy, linked to at least 12 juvenile overdoses, with three being fatal, in Carrollton and Flower Mound. The investigation involved the DEA Dallas Field Office and the Carrollton Police Department, with assistance from School Resource Officers in the Carrollton-Farmer’s Branch Independent School District and the Lewisville Independent School District. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Calvert and Phelesa Guy.
