DALLAS, Texas — A Dallas man has been convicted in federal court of distributing fentanyl after a jury found him guilty following a three-day trial, federal prosecutors announced.
Joshua Burton, 30, was convicted on June 18, 2026, of conspiring to distribute fentanyl and personally distributing fentanyl within the Northern District of Texas.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas, jurors returned the guilty verdict after approximately five hours of deliberations.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said the conviction reflects law enforcement's continued efforts to combat the spread of fentanyl in North Texas.
"This verdict should send a clear message to drug dealers that we will dismantle any effort to peddle deadly fentanyl in our community," Raybould said. "I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their dedicated collaboration in taking thousands of fentanyl pills off the streets of Dallas."
Evidence presented during trial showed law enforcement seized approximately 17,000 fentanyl pills from Burton during a single week of the investigation.
Prosecutors also presented evidence indicating Burton had been distributing fentanyl for approximately three years. Investigators testified that information recovered from Burton's cellphone revealed a history of narcotics distribution activity in the area.
Burton is scheduled to be sentenced on October 7, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade.
He faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.
The investigation was conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Garland Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abby Policastro and Marissa Aulbaugh prosecuted the case.
