Wednesday, May 26, 2021 | 4:53 p.m.
A Reno man has pleaded guilty to possessing and selling hundreds of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing the powerful and dangerous synthetic opioid fentanyl, Nevada's top federal prosecutor said Wednesday.
Octavio Mendoza Jr., 24, faces a sentence of at least five years in prison, under a plea agreement that avoided trial.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou said Mendoza pleaded guilty to seven felony counts of distribution of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams (1.4 ounces) or more of fentanyl.
U.S. District Judge Howard D. McKibben set sentencing Aug. 24. Mendoza also will face five years of federal supervision after prison.
Two deputy federal public defenders representing Mendoza did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
Court documents said Mendoza sold counterfeit oxycodone pills stamped with “M30” to investigators between June and September 2020, when he was arrested in a vehicle in downtown Reno. Authorities reported finding 374 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl in the vehicle.
The pills weighed a total of 41.1 grams, the plea agreement said.
