Houston man admits selling fentanyl pills tied to deaths in Texas and Connecticut
Houston, Texas – A 25-year local resident has admitted in federal court that he distributed counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl, a deadly decision that prosecutors say directly led to the deaths of two people in two different states.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced that Antonio Curo entered a guilty plea to distribution of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, a case that highlights the terrifying reality of how fast these fake pills can destroy lives. Investigators said Curo distributed the drug through the U.S. mail, sending pills to individuals across the country while knowing the substance he was selling was fentanyl.
Authorities described the case as a brutal example of how counterfeit pills made to look like legitimate medication can carry lethal consequences, especially when the victims believe they are taking something far less dangerous.
Two deaths tied to fentanyl pills sent through the mail
Federal officials said one of the deaths involved a 16-year-old female in Houston. According to the case information, Curo directly provided counterfeit pills to the teenage victim. She later died after consuming pills that were confirmed to contain fentanyl.
The details of the discovery were deeply painful. Prosecutors said the victim’s father found her deceased in her room. Near her body was a small orange plastic bag containing an imprinted pill marked “M-30.” Laboratory testing later confirmed the pill contained fentanyl.
The second death connected to Curo’s distribution involved a 24-year-old man in Connecticut, showing that the reach of this drug operation stretched far beyond Texas. Officials said the Connecticut victim ordered pills through social media and an instant messaging service. After that order was placed, Curo sent the pills through the mail.
The victim’s girlfriend reportedly witnessed the final moments that followed. Authorities said she saw him receive the package and ingest the pills, and he later died. The timeline painted by investigators shows how quickly fentanyl can take hold, leaving almost no time for rescue once the drug is in the body.
Curo also admitted he was aware of the deaths and knew he was selling fentanyl, a key point that prosecutors emphasized as they laid out the seriousness of the case.
“Curo knowingly distributed counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl, showing a complete disregard for the law and human life,” said Ganjei. “The facts are incredibly clear: one pill can kill. Now, two more young lives have been lost to this scourge, and two families will endure a lifetime of grief all because a criminal placed money before morality. My office will always protect the families within the Southern District of Texas by aggressively prosecuting those who seek to poison our community.”
Sentencing date set as federal prison time looms
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett accepted Curo’s guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for April 30. At that hearing, Curo faces extremely serious penalties under federal law, including a minimum of 20 years in prison and up to life in federal prison. Prosecutors also noted he could face a maximum fine of up to $10 million.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, with help from partner agencies in Vermont and Iowa. Additional support came from the USPIS Office of Inspector General, the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, the Fort Bend County Narcotics Task Force, the Houston Police Department, and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
The case stands as a grim reminder of how fentanyl disguised as prescription pills continues to tear through communities, leaving behind shock, heartbreak, and families forced to live with loss that never truly fades.
