HOUSTON — A Houston man has been charged for allegedly distributing fentanyl that resulted in two deaths, according to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Antonio Curo, 24, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death or serious bodily injury as well as six substantive counts of distribution of fentanyl from August 2023 through April 2024.
Curo is also charged with conspiracy to distribute and distribution of alprazolam, otherwise known as Xanax.
The indictment alleges Curo was a member of an ongoing 13-month conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl resulting in death.
According to records filed in the case, Curo recruited and directed accomplices and exercised "decision-making authority" over the distribution of fentanyl.
The indictment accuses Curo of setting the prices for the pills, negotiating, planning and organizing their sale, preparing them for shipment, mailing parcels containing pills to individuals across the country, receiving payments and claiming a right to the majority share of the drug proceeds.
“Fentanyl is the greatest drug threat of our time, killing young people at catastrophic rates and devastating families in communities across the United States,” said Hamdani. “Curo allegedly used modern-day methods and traditional means -- social media and the mail -- to help market and distribute his deadly fentanyl stock to victims near and far. Today’s announcement is a step towards achieving justice and closure for the families of the victims in this case.”
In December 2023, Curo allegedly distributed fentanyl that resulted in the death of a 24-year-old man in Connecticut. Records show the victim had ordered pills through a social media and instant messaging service and Curo sent them through the mail.
The victim’s girlfriend allegedly saw him receive the package and ingest the pills before he died.
Another death tied to this conspiracy includes that of a 16-year-old girl. In January of this year, Curo allegedly directly provided the pills to her.
The teen's father found her deceased in her room with an imprinted “M-30” pill in a small, orange plastic bag next to her body, according to records. Lab testing confirmed the pill allegedly contained fentanyl.
Records also show a trip Curo paid for occurred from an address near the victim’s residence to an address near his residence on the day before she died.
Curo is also allegedly linked to shipments sent in January to Vermont and Iowa. A 16-year-old living in Vermont had allegedly purchased and received approximately 30 pills in a glass bottle. The pills were determined to be Xanax.
The teen didn't ingest the Xanax.
Authorities also identified the intended recipient of the Iowa parcel who had ordered what she thought was Oxycodone through the mail, according to court records.
Authorities allegedly tested the pills and found they contained fentanyl with a net weight of 5.1 grams. She stated that she didn't know the pills she ordered contained fentanyl.
At the time of his arrest, Curo had several pills in his possession, according to the charges.
At a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan, the court heard that Curo was aware of the deaths and that he knew he was selling fentanyl.
The court has found him to be a "danger to the community" and a "flight risk." He's been ordered to remain in custody pending further criminal proceedings.
If convicted, Curo faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years imprisonment and up to life. He also faces a maximum of $10 million in possible fines.
Mikalob Hill, 24, of Houston, is also charged in relation to the case. He allegedly picked up several parcels containing fentanyl at Curo’s direction and rented his mailbox to him.
Hill faces one count of possession with intent to distribute alprazolam and faces up to five years in prison if he's convicted.
