At the Forest Park farmers market, authorities say illicit activity has also been taking place. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Georgia, Luis Sanchez-Acevedo, a 41-year-old illegal alien from Mexico, was charged with distributing fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that has been linked to a spate of overdose deaths across the nation. The statement revealed that Sanchez-Acevedo was allegedly selling fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills from his produce stand at a farmers market in Forest Park, Georgia.
U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg highlighted the seriousness of the situation, "“Sanchez-Acevedo allegedly distributed deadly “tranq” pills containing fentanyl and xylazine at a farmers market where he sold fruits and vegetables. Our community is a safer place now that this illegal alien and his lethal pills are off the streets,” DEA's Jae W. Chung added the grave message that fentanyl is responsible for "countless overdose poisonings" and emphasized DEA's commitment to combat the trafficking of this drug, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The investigation, which led to the arrest of Sanchez-Acevedo, revealed that he sold about 3,000 of these counterfeit "M-30" pills over September and October of 2025. When agents apprehended him on Tuesday, they found approximately 1,000 additional pills at his stand, pills which were later tested positive for fentanyl and xylazine, an animal sedative that is highly toxic to humans.
Sanchez-Acevedo now faces charges of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Herskowitz and Edward C. Robinson Jr. leading the prosecution. It's important to note, the charges are merely accusations. Sanchez-Acevedo is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, in court. The investigation was conducted by the DEA, with support from the Clayton County Police Department, and is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative targeting illegal immigration and drug trafficking, according to the same press release.
The focus now shifts to the legal proceedings, as Sanchez-Acevedo made his first court appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge. With no trial date set, the case remains unresolved. The U.S. Attorney’s Office advises the public, particularly parents and children, to educate themselves on the dangers of drugs at www.justthinktwice.gov. For further information, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office or visit the office's website.
