A 22-year-old Humble resident, Cole Martin Millsap, has been arrested on charges related to the fentanyl overdose death of a Houston resident, as announced by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Millsap is accused of continuing illegal drug sales even while on bond and now faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison if convicted, as well as a possible maximum fine of $5 million. According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas, his initial appearance was before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo today
"The victim in this case had just completed rehabilitation before allegedly receiving the fatal dose," U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani stated in a press release, highlighting the tragic backdrop against which this alleged crime took place. The individual had been given opportunities and was on bond with the condition that he wear a GPS monitoring device, but he allegedly continued his dealings. Court documents indicate recorded messages between Millsap and the victim that corroborate the transaction. The arrest is part of the wider efforts by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Fentanyl/Overdose Task Force, with backing from local law enforcement
An autopsy pointed to fentanyl toxicity as the cause of the victim's death and the investigation linked text message conversations regarding drug transactions to "COLE WORLD," a contact saved in the victim’s phone, which following a welfare check on April 22 revealed the victim to have passed away, a mere three days post their last correspondence which according to the charges, was also consistent with data from Millsap's GPS monitoring device indicating his movements around said transactions. Further investigation involved undercover operations where Millsap allegedly sold fentanyl to law enforcement on several occasions.
The charges against Millsap include several incidents of drug sales, among them, the sale of 0.4 grams of powder fentanyl for $40 on August 29, 3.55 grams of fentanyl and 3.9 grams of heroin for $530 on September 4, and 105.4 grams of fentanyl powder which he sold for $3,470 on October 3, Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Tallichet leading the prosecution. The work by the agencies, including the Houston Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, underscores the reality of the fentanyl crisis and the rigorous attempts to cut it at its roots.
