Las Vegas Fentanyl Dealer Gets Nearly 5 Years

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Tanoo Senethavilay, 37, of Las Vegas, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced today to four years and nine months for peddling fentanyl, the deadly synthetic opioid flooding the streets. Chief U.S. District Judge Miranda Du also ordered three years of supervised release following Senethavilay’s incarceration. The sentence comes after Senethavilay pleaded guilty on December 18, 2019, to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

The bust, a joint operation by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Nevada Gaming Control Board, revealed Senethavilay conspired to distribute a significant quantity of the dangerous drug between August and September of 2017. Court documents show he moved 208 grams – roughly half a pound – of fentanyl in exchange for cold, hard cash. He was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following the hearing.

This wasn’t Senethavilay’s first dance with the law. Records show a lengthy rap sheet including prior convictions for robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm, attempted grand larceny, unlawful carry of a concealed weapon, and driving under the influence. Clearly, a pattern of disregard for the law – and now, a hefty prison sentence.

Fentanyl is no ordinary drug. It’s a synthetic opioid 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine, and dealers routinely cut it into heroin to boost potency – and profits. The street names are chilling: “China Girl,” “King Ivory,” “Murder 8.” A few milligrams – a few grains of salt – can be a fatal dose. And the danger isn’t limited to users. Law enforcement faces risks from accidental exposure, as the drug can be absorbed through the skin.

U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich of the District of Nevada and FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse warn that many users unknowingly consume fentanyl, believing they are purchasing heroin. This deception is a primary driver of the skyrocketing overdose deaths across the nation. This case is a grim reminder of the deadly consequences of the fentanyl crisis and the relentless efforts of federal agencies to stem the flow of this killer drug.

The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing fight against drug trafficking in Nevada and beyond. The investigation remains open, and authorities are urging anyone with information about drug activity to come forward.

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