DEA brings first ever fentanyl murder charges in West Texas
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Eric Robles was indicted on Texas state charges of Murder and Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance in Penalty Group 1B Over 4 grams and Under 200 grams.
It is the first time the 34th Judicial District Attorney's office charged murder as it relates to the distribution of fentanyl resulting in a death.
The DEA El Paso's Fentanyl Overdose Response Team investigated the death. FORT is staffed by DEA, El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Department of Army Criminal Investigations Division, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas National Guard, and the El Paso Police Department.
“The ability to bring the state charge of murder gives the DEA another tool in our belt,” said Omar Arellano, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s El Paso Division. “Drug dealers even considering setting up shop in Texas need to keep that in mind.”
El Paso County Sheriff Oscar Ugarte commented on the historic indictment, saying they're proud to be part of FORT.
"We will not tolerate the distribution of fentanyl in our community—and we will continue using every legal tool available to bring justice for victims and their families. Our message is clear: if your actions result in death, you will be charged accordingly."
2024 was the first time that fentanyl overdose rates have gone down in El Paso. ABC-7 spoke with a professor of public health at NMSU, Jagdish Khubchandani, who says that keeping those rates down is a community effort.
"Most people nationwide have heard about Narcan, which means they know that we have a national public health emergency with opioid overdose. The unfortunate part is many people don't know that it's available over the counter. They don't know how to get it. They don't know how to use it."
Khubchandani said that less than 10% of people nationwide carry Narcan with them. In communities with a lot of overdoes, they expect people to have it on hand.
"Part of this also depends on federal and state funding for Narcan. We have seen over the last ten years, the funding has not been enough to provide Narcan to communities, to help community members."
He compared Narcan to CPR. More people knowing what it does and how to use it could save many more lives in emergency situations.
"We have something that can be carried in a pocket. People can take it with them. And when you see someone overdosing, you could reverse their overdose and save a life."
