A Texas man, William Jake Childers, 39, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his involvement in a deadly fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
The sentence, handed down in a federal court in Midland, follows an investigation that linked Childers to the distribution of counterfeit M-30 Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, resulting in the tragic deaths of two West Texas men.
According to court documents, the case began in May 2022 when Winkler County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to an unattended death in Kermit, Texas.
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An autopsy later confirmed the cause of death as acute fentanyl toxicity. Further investigation linked the victim to Childers, who had been trafficking the deadly counterfeit pills.
“This office has again prosecuted a case in which fentanyl traffickers valued quick profits over human lives,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Sadly, fentanyl continues to plague our communities and claim the lives of our friends, neighbors and loved ones. My office remains committed to vigorously prosecuting fentanyl traffickers and seeking strong sentences as a deterrent to these criminals.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) played a crucial role in the investigation, working closely with local law enforcement to track down Childers and dismantle his operation.
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“Unfortunately, the poison these traffickers are selling is killing more and more Americans,” said Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division. “The public needs to know the DEA investigates these drug-related deaths. And if you kill someone by selling them your poison, you will be held responsible for that death.”
Co-defendant Jessi Cortez remains in custody and is awaiting sentencing.
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