LAREDO, Texas — A South Texas man was sentenced for providing fentanyl to a 15-year-old, announced following an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in coordination with our federal and state law enforcement partners.
Jose Antonio Carlos III aka Jose Carlos, 23, from Laredo, was sentenced on Jan. 15 by U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal who ordered him to serve 240 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. Carlos was also ordered to pay $5,400 in restitution. In handing down the sentence, the court noted how sad the facts of the case were and that the individual who died was only 15 years old. Carlos pleaded guilty Jan. 4, 2024, to distributing fentanyl resulting in death.
“The sentencing of this individual underscores the serious dangers posed by fentanyl trafficking. This defendant's actions have tragically led to the loss of life, exemplifying the devastating impact of this deadly drug," said HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “HSI remains unwavering in our commitment to dismantling these dangerous networks and safeguarding our communities. We will persistently work with our partners to hold those responsible accountable and ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens.”
“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,” said Hamdani. “By addressing the sources and networks that distribute this lethal substance, we aim to disrupt the cycle of devastation and send a clear message: those who endanger public safety for personal gain will face justice.”
According to court documents, on May 17, 2023, authorities responded to an overdose call at a home in Laredo. Once on scene, they found the victim laying in his bed unresponsive and holding a rolled-up dollar bill with a white powder on it. The white powder later tested positive for fentanyl. A toxicology report and autopsy confirmed the cause of death to be fentanyl toxicity. The investigation revealed text messages which showed the victim wanting to buy “pase” from Carlos. “Pase” was code for cocaine. Carlos indicated the price and provided an address off Longoria Loop.
On the evening of May 16, 2023, an individual drove the victim to that address. There, a person later identified as Carlos handed the victim a small baggie with a white powder inside it. The driver then dropped off the victim at his home, a home he shared with his aunt.
The next morning, the victim’s aunt heard her nephew’s phone ringing. She thought the victim overslept, so she knocked on his door but heard no response. She then tried to open the door to the victim’s bedroom but was unable to, so she climbed in through one of the bedroom windows.
Once inside the room, she noticed her nephew lying face down on the bed. When she touched him, his body was stiff and cold. Law enforcement responded to the residence and pronounced the victim dead on-scene.
As part of his guilty plea, Carlos admitted to selling “pase” to the victim. He also acknowledged sending a text to the victim May 17, 2023, asking “What’s up was it good or no[?].”
Carlos remains in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The HSI San Antonio area of responsibility (AOR) covers more than 500 miles of border with three DSAC locations: Rio Grande Valley, Laredo and San Antonio. Combined, these offices respond to 22 ports of entry (18 land, 3 air and 1 sea), several railroad bridges/yards, seven U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints, and numerous state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies within the AOR.
Learn more about HSI San Antonio’s mission to increase public safety in South Texas communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSI_SanAntonio.