A 22-year-old Austin man has received a 10-year sentence for his involvement in the trafficking of fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills. The convicted individual, Gabriel Cecilio Osorio, was implicated in the distribution of these dangerous fake pharmaceuticals after an investigation spurred by a non-fatal overdose of a 17-year-old in the fall of 2022. According to the sheriff’s office, Osorio's activities first came under scrutiny following this incident.
In a series of events detailed by CBS Austin, the Special Services Division identified Gabriel Cecilio Osorio as the suspect during an investigation that spanned from May to June 2023. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted two controlled purchases, securing 100 pills initially and an additional 3,000 pills in a subsequent transaction.
Osorio's arrest was made on June 22, 2023, when he was apprehended outside his residence. At the time of the arrest, approximately 5,000 pills were found on his person. A further search of Osorio's home revealed an additional 3,700 pills along with a cash total of $45,701, a money counter, a digital scale, and four firearms, as per News 4 San Antonio.
Beyond the decade of incarceration, the court also mandated Osorio to forfeit the confiscated cash, firearms, and assorted jewelry taken during the search of his residence. These assets are often seized in drug trafficking cases as they may represent the proceeds of illegal activity or have been used in the commission of said crimes. The sentencing aims to provide justice for the peril introduced into the community by such nefarious acts and to deter similar conduct by others.
