GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: A Los Angeles drug kingpin has been handed a decade behind bars for his sinister role in the fentanyl epidemic. George Anthony Manzo, 37, of Redlands, California, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring with others to flood the US with deadly fentanyl pills.
Manzo’s criminal activities reached a fever pitch on March 17, 2021, when he sold 500 fentanyl tablets. His preferred method of communication was Snapchat, which he used to arrange deals and keep in touch with clients. The following month, he doubled down by selling around 2,000 more fentanyl pills to co-defendant Michel Flores-Paredes.
Things took a turn on June 29, 2021, when law enforcement intercepted Manzo’s girlfriend and her three children during a traffic stop in Las Vegas. Approximately 30,000 fentanyl tablets were recovered from their vehicle, later confirmed by DEA lab analysis. With the evidence stacked against them, Manzo and his girlfriend skipped the country, fleeing to Tijuana, Mexico, before being captured and returned to face justice.
Manzo pleaded guilty on January 2, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance – fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance – fentanyl. The investigation was a joint effort by the DEA and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, led by Assistant United States Attorney Melanee Smith.
This sentencing is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, which targets and dismantles top-level criminal organizations threatening the US. Fentanyl remains a national emergency, with over two-thirds of 2022’s reported drug overdose deaths involving the deadly substance. For those who have information on controlled substance violations in their community, the DEA Tip Line at https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip is available.
George Anthony Manzo’s sentence serves as a stark reminder of the deadly consequences associated with the fentanyl crisis. One pill can kill, and law enforcement agencies across the country are committed to stopping this relentless threat.
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Key Facts
- State: Nevada
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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