PORTLAND, Ore. — In a grim judicial outcome, Manuel Antonio Souza Espinoza, 27, was sentenced today to 157 months in federal prison for his role in the tragic fentanyl poisoning that led to the death of a Portland teenager.
Souza Espinoza, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Portland, was charged with distributing fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. His sentence includes three years of supervised release following his prison term.
The young victim’s overdose on March 7, 2022, from a counterfeit “M30” Oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl served as the catalyst for the investigation that led to Souza Espinoza’s downfall. He was identified as the third-level supplier of these lethal pills.
Investigative efforts by Homeland Security Investigations, the Portland Police Bureau’s Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit, and other agencies culminated in a controlled purchase on March 31, 2022, where Souza Espinoza was arrested. Authorities seized 1,000 fentanyl-laced pills and a loaded .40 caliber handgun.
On April 21, 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Souza Espinoza on two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He pleaded guilty to these charges on March 5, 2025, admitting his sale of the fentanyl-laced pills led to the victim’s death.
This case was a collaborative effort among multiple agencies, reflecting the state’s commitment to combating the illicit fentanyl crisis. Fentanyl, an opioid up to 100 times more potent than morphine, has been responsible for a surge in overdose deaths in Oregon.
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Key Facts
- State: Oregon
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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