Fentanyl killed teen, now the dealer who sold it is heading to prison

Dallas, TX – Two men who distributed fentanyl that caused the death of a seventeen-year-old boy were handed lengthy federal prison sentences on Monday, according to Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.

Tecose Dchaz Martin, 38, of Mesquite, received 360 months behind bars for distributing fentanyl that directly led to the teen’s death. He pled guilty in July and faced sentencing in front of Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey. Martin’s conviction adds to a long history of drug-related felonies, including a 2017 case in which he was sentenced to 25 years for distributing controlled substances in a drug-free zone.

Fentanyl death blamed on dealer

Connor Miller, 22, of Richardson, admitted to aiding and abetting the distribution of fentanyl resulting in the boy’s death. He pled guilty in May and was sentenced to 151 months in prison.

Court records show the events began on January 30, 2024, when Miller arranged through co-defendant Jesse Medina, known as “Plug,” to buy fentanyl pills. Miller and the teenager drove to a location on Harry Hines Boulevard in Dallas, where Medina sold them four pills for $40. The pair later consumed the drugs at Miller’s home, and the seventeen-year-old died after ingesting the fentanyl. Medical evidence confirmed the drug was the sole cause of death.

Investigators traced the supply chain back to Martin, identified as “Blues Man,” who sold fentanyl to lower-level dealers including Medina. Evidence presented in court showed Martin purchased pills in bulk—up to 1,000 at a time—at $1.50 to $1.60 each, then resold them for $2 to $5 apiece. He told associates that selling larger quantities increased the odds of overdoses but admitted he preferred to let others handle smaller deals.

At the time of his arrest, officers found 88 fentanyl pills on Martin, 805 more in his apartment, and two firearms. His sentencing reflects both the volume of drugs distributed and his extensive criminal record.

The case underscores the federal government’s ongoing push to hold traffickers accountable for the deadly spread of fentanyl across North Texas.

A teenage life lost led to prison walls closing in on the men who profited from his death.