Friday, July 03, 2020

Two Las Vegas Men Indicted For Distributing Opioids Resulting In A Death

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Marco Cebrenos-Osuna, 29, of North Las Vegas, who is accused of distributing opioids resulting in the death of another person, made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel Neill for the DEA.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Cebrenos-Osuna and Daniel Anguiano, 41, of Las Vegas, with one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and one count of distribution of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl. Cebrenos-Osuna was arrested on June 30, 2020, and Anguiano was arrested on May 27, 2020. A jury trial has been scheduled before U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon on August 21, 2020.

As alleged in the indictment, Anguiano and Cebrenos-Osuna conspired to and distributed oxycodone, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl, resulting in the death of a man who obtained opioids from them. Oxycodone and fentanyl are classified as Schedule II controlled substances, and acetyl fentanyl is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance:

  • Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug that is approximately 80-100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. Fentanyl poses a high risk of death not only to users, but to law enforcement since the drug may be ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. A few milligrams of fentanyl, which is equivalent to a few grains of table salt, may be deadly.
  • Acetyl fentanyl is an analog of fentanyl that is 10-15 times more potent than morphine. Acetyl fentanyl has never been approved for medical use and is not available by prescription.
  • Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid that is a common drug of abuse. It can be prescribed for managing moderate to severe pain when other treatments are not sufficient.

If convicted, Aguiano and Cebrenos-Osuna each face: (a) a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine for the conspiracy to distribute oxycodone; and (b) a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment (with a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years imprisonment) and a $10,000,000 fine for distribution of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl. In addition to imprisonment and fines, the defendants also each face a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case is the product of an investigation by the DEA.

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