‘Main source’ of fentanyl shipments arrested in connection with juvenile overdose of Carrollton: DOJ

The Justice Department announced the arrests of three people on Wednesday related to a fentanyl overdose among nearly a dozen students in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch area, including a man described as a “major supply source.”

U.S. Attorney Leiga Simonton said Jason Xavier Villanueva, 22, was arrested Tuesday by Carrollton police and the DEA and faces federal charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

Villanueva first appeared in federal court on Wednesday afternoon. It is not clear whether he received a lawyer.

The Justice Department said Villanueva allegedly worked for an underage dealer who supplied fentanyl pills to Luis Eduardo Navarrete and Magali Mejia Cano. The couple were accused last week of selling fentanyl to children at Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISDand was the “main source of supply” of fentanyl in cases of overdose.

Investigators believe Villanueva, Cano and Navarrete are linked to 10 underage overdoses among students, three of which were fatal. The overdoses occurred over a six-month period and involved students aged 13-17.

According to Simonton, Villanueva also allegedly interacted directly with some minors through social media.

Those who survived the overdose suffered temporary paralysis, intubation and other medical injuries that will stay with them for a while, Simonton said.

The Justice Department warned that the pills sold were blue and round and looked like regular prescription pills but contained fentanyl.

“In some cases, drug dealers mix fentanyl into counterfeit pills without the knowledge of the buyer. These pills contain a hidden deadly threat. Fentanyl is much cheaper and easier to manufacture than other drugs, and is highly addictive. in fentanyl for another drug, oxy, xanax, or even methamphetamine or heroin if they think they’re going to make a big profit,” Simonton said. “Make no mistake, unless it comes from a licensed healthcare provider, a pill your child thinks is Percocet, OxyContin, Xanax, or Adderall may actually be fentanyl. And if it’s fentanyl, chances are that even a small portion of one pill could be fatal.”

Simonton urged parents to speak frankly with children about the dangers of taking pills, especially those not obtained from a pharmacist or doctor. She also warned parents to be on the lookout for social media use and the use of coded language or slang that could mask discussion of drugs.

“Of course, if you know that someone is selling fentanyl or any other pills to children, report it to law enforcement immediately,” Simonton said, adding that the Justice Department is committed to fighting the fentanyl epidemic.

In Wednesday’s statement, Simonton was joined by Dallas Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Eduardo Chavez and Carrollton Police Chief Roberto Arredondo.