Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Fentanyl Poisoning

By: James Peeler

Three individuals have been arrested and charged in connection with the overdoses of nine Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD students which occurred between September of last year and February of this year.

Luis Eduardo Navarrette, 21, and Magaly Meja Cano, 29, were arrested on Feb. 3 and charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

Jason Xavier Villanueva, 22, arrested days after, is charged with conspiracy to distribute a Type 2 controlled substance.

The DEA defines Type 2 controlled substances as “drugs with a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence.”

“Fentanyl is killing our kids. We are angry about it. We are heartbroken about it. And we are determined to do all we can do about it,” U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton said.

In 2021, more than 106,000 drug overdose deaths were reported- of which, 70,601 involved fentanyl.

“Fentanyl does not discriminate by age, race, gender, or socio-economic status. Its addictive properties cannot be compared to anything else on the streets today,” DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Eduardo Chavez said.

“The overdose and poisoning margin of error between life or death is microscopic,” Chavez added.

According to the criminal complaint, Navarrete and Cano dealt fake Percocet and Oxycontin pills laced with fentanyl to multiple juvenile drug dealers, mostly students at R.L. Turner High School.

In turn, they sold the drugs to fellow high school students and younger students at Dewitt Perry and Dan F. Long Middle Schools.

An unnamed 14-year-old girl who overdosed twice told law enforcement the pills she ingested came from the juvenile dealers who obtained the drugs from Navarrete. She’s confirmed to have purchased pills directly from Navarrete in the past.

In January, law enforcement watching Navarrete’s residence observed him engage in a hand-off with a juvenile dealer.

Police followed the juvenile into a bathroom at R.L. Turner where the juvenile hid in a stall to crush and snort the pills- the juvenile admitted that they obtained them from Navarrete.

Following the arrests of Cano and Navarrete, their supplier, Villanueva, posted on Instagram.

“Only thing that’s gonna stop us is feds.”

On Feb. 14, Villanueva was arrested.

According to the complaint, Villanueva worked through a juvenile dealer to supply fentanyl-laced pills to Navarrete and Cano, but Villanueva dealt with some of the teenage dealers directly.

Villanueva, Navarrete, and Cano face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.