CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Corpus Christi man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after selling fentanyl-laced pills that resulted in the death of a 20-year-old man, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Ricardo Julyan Kross Rios, 22, plead guilty on July 26, 2023.
This week, he was sentenced to 180 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release.
At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony from the night the 20-year-old died from the pills. It was said that his girlfriend woke up to find him cold and not breathing, she then called 911 but paramedics were not able to resuscitate him.
An investigation revealed Rios had sold him fentanyl-laced pills for a party on December 9, 2022, the 20-year-old was found dead the next day.
Witnesses described the pills as “press made” hydrocodone pills which may have contained fentanyl.
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales said this loss of life deserves a significant sentence, and those who sell pills should take note that, "if your pill kills- we will not rest until justice is done..."
Rios will remain in custody, pending transfer to a federal prison.
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