⏱ 2 min read
Jose De Jesus Martinez, a 25-year-old from Avondale, Arizona, was caught delivering approximately 150,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl near Phoenix on May 5, 2025. The bust was part of a Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation, which led to Martinez’s arrest and the seizure of 13.3 kilograms of the deadly drug. Fentanyl is a man-made opioid 50 times more potent than heroin, with just two milligrams considered a potentially deadly dose.
Martinez pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and was sentenced to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, on July 13. The prosecution is part of the HSTF initiative, a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
The HSTF investigation highlights the dangers of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, which are often sold through social media or other illegitimate sources. Legitimate pharmaceutical pills cannot be bought through social media, and the only safe medications are ones prescribed directly to you by a trusted medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist.
The case serves as a warning to those engaging in fentanyl distribution and the importance of seeking help from trusted medical professionals. For additional information and resources, including a Caregivers Fact Sheet, visit DEA.gov/onepill.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: Arizona
- Location: AZ
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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