A pair of Texas residents have been sentenced to years in prison for their involvement in attempting to distribute fentanyl, a potent and deadly drug. The two men, Hernan Cortez and Daniel Elizondo, pled guilty to the charges in January, and their sentences were recently delivered.
The Incident and Investigation
40-year-old Hernan Cortez and 37-year-old Daniel Elizondo were caught attempting to sell fentanyl, leading to their prison sentences. The pair was involved in a scheme to distribute the deadly drug in Laredo, Texas, and were arrested after authorities caught onto their plans.
On August 28, 2024, Cortez drove from Houston to Laredo, carrying half a kilogram of fentanyl with the intent to sell it. He was assisted by Elizondo, who was involved in hiding and transporting the drugs. The following day, Cortez brought the fentanyl to a house they planned to use as a storage location.
Authorities, already monitoring the situation, witnessed Elizondo exiting the house with a black bag, which he carried into an alleyway. He returned to the house without the bag, raising suspicion. Upon securing a search warrant, officers searched the area and discovered 274 grams of fentanyl hidden inside an old tire in the alleyway.
The Fentanyl Find and Arrests
Elizondo and Cortez were arrested and charged with the intent to distribute fentanyl. The investigation revealed that Cortez had initially believed he was carrying cocaine or heroin, but upon trying to sell the drugs in Houston, he couldn’t find any buyers. It turned out that the substance was fentanyl, a much more dangerous drug.
Sentences Handed Down
After pleading guilty, Cortez and Elizondo received their sentences. Cortez was sentenced to 66 months (about 5.5 years) in prison, while Elizondo was sentenced to 63 months (just over 5 years). Upon their release, both men will spend an additional four years under supervision.