The two individuals who supplied fentanyl pills to a 15-year-old Carrollton girl, who later fatally overdosed, have been sentenced to a combined 15 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Leigha Simonton.
Lizbeth Prieto, 19, also known as Lizbeth Escamilla, and Cristian Lopez, 24, were indicted in July 2023 after being charged in connection with the distribution of fentanyl. Prieto pleaded guilty in November 2023 to distribution of a controlled substance to a person under 21, receiving an 84-month sentence in April 2024. Lopez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, receiving a 96-month sentence on Monday.
U.S. Attorney Simonton condemned the impact of fentanyl on communities, stating, “Fentanyl rips through communities and decimates families. And with so many traffickers wantonly pushing these pills, all of our teenagers are vulnerable.” She also emphasized the launch of the Protect Our Children Project, which aims to reduce fentanyl-related fatalities in North Texas.
The investigation revealed that Lopez supplied the fentanyl pills to Prieto, who then provided them to the victim, a 15-year-old student from Newman Smith High School in Carrollton, identified as “J.G.” Family members discovered J.G. unresponsive at home on June 13, 2023. She was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Investigators found counterfeit Percocet pills inscribed with M/30, which tested positive for fentanyl, in the victim’s bedroom. Social media communications revealed Prieto had offered to sell the victim 13 fentanyl pills for $100 just a day before the overdose, confirming the exchange and delivery details.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division and the Carrollton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phelesa Guy and Rick Calvert prosecuted the case.
