EL PASO, Texas — A local fentanyl dealer has been taken off the streets after being sentenced to 130 months in prison for his crimes. Gary Everett Rinker, 56, a prominent fentanyl dealer in the El Paso community, will spend the next decade behind bars.
According to court documents, Rinker sold approximately 200 pills containing 19.8 grams of fentanyl to a buyer at an El Paso hotel over a three-day period. This was not an isolated incident, as he had sold quantities of counterfeit Oxycodone Hydrochloride 30 mg tablets to the buyer, totaling approximately 55 grams of fentanyl.
Rinker was arrested in July 2023 and pleaded guilty on November 1, 2023. His extensive drug-related criminal history dating back to 2007 played a significant role in his sentencing.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas praised the joint efforts of the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration, as well as the dedicated attorneys of the Western District who aggressively prosecuted the case. Esparza stated, ‘This defendant was a prominent fentanyl dealer in the El Paso community who will spend the next decade off our streets, largely due to his extensive drug-related criminal history dating back to 2007.’
FBI El Paso Field Office’s Special Agent in Charge, John Morales, also weighed in on the case. Morales said, ‘Fentanyl continues to be a considerable threat to our communities, ending the lives of our neighbors, friends, and loved ones who, in many cases, aren’t even aware they’re taking the drug.’
Towanda Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s El Paso Division, further emphasized the importance of their Fentanyl Overdose Response Team (FORT). Thorne-James stated, ‘Our FORT does not just investigate fatalities caused by fentanyl. By putting Mr. Rinker behind bars, FORT worked proactively to potentially save lives.’
The FBI and DEA investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Watts prosecuting the case.
Gary Everett Rinker, 56, was sentenced to 130 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Defendant Name: Gary Everett Rinker
Criminal Charges: Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl
City and State: El Paso, Texas
Exact Date: July 2023 (arrest) and November 1, 2023 (plea)
Sentence or Outcome: 130 months in prison
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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