A man from West Texas has been sentenced to 21 years in federal prison for his role in supplying a fatal dose of fentanyl. Rene Antonio Melendez, 34, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute the drug, which resulted in a tragic overdose.
The case dates back to March 11, 2023, when authorities responded to a report of an unresponsive individual at a hotel in Laredo. Upon arrival, they were informed by a friend of the victim that he had used a substance referred to as “White China” and had subsequently ceased breathing. First responders discovered a bag containing fentanyl at the scene, and the medical examiner later confirmed that the cause of death was acute fentanyl toxicity.
Investigations revealed that the victim had arranged to purchase $80 worth of drugs from Melendez, who instructed him to meet at a location on San Bernardo Avenue. Text messages, cellphone records, and witness statements corroborated Melendez’s involvement as the supplier of the lethal dose. On the day of the incident, Melendez even reached out to the victim to inquire about the drugs, shortly before the friend called 911 to report the emergency.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña sentenced Melendez to 252 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He remains in federal custody and is awaiting transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility.
