DEA's El Paso Division brings first fentanyl murder charge in state
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Texas House Bill 6 recently passed in response to the rising number of fentanyl-related deaths across the state, and the 34th Judicial District Attorney has indicted a man on murder regarding fentanyl distribution resulting death, being the first state case charged through the El Paso division which covers 17 counties in West Texas, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The DEA says Eric Robles was indicted on state charges of murder and manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance on April 3.
Eric Robles. Photo: El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
On April 23, Robles was transferred from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, just two weeks before completing his sentence on unrelated federal drug charges, the DEA said.
The DEA says this is the first case indicted on state charges through the El Paso Division. However, it has had a total of 10 federally-charged cases, which resulted in the sentencing of 10 people for distribution causing death.
The 10 individuals received a combined 152 years in federal prison without parole, the DEA said.
'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.'
The DEA's El Paso Fentanyl Overdose Response Team (FORT), a West Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiative, investigated the case. FORT is staffed by the DEA, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigations Division, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas National Guard, and the El Paso Police Department.
'The indictment handed down in this case marks a historic and necessary step forward in the fight against the fentanyl epidemic that continues to devastate our community and families across Texas. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office is proud to be part of the DEA's Fentanyl Overdose Response Team and to work alongside our local, state, and federal partners to ensure drug traffickers are held fully accountable.
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,' the El Paso County Sheriff's Office said.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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