Local man imprisoned for distributing meth out of car shop

HOUSTON – A 42-year old Houston man has been handed a significant sentence for his role in a counterfeit opiate conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Jason Curtis Caldwell pleaded guilty Jan. 6 to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Senior U.S. District Judge David Hittner has now sentenced him to a 210-month-term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by five-years of supervised release. Prior to handing down the sentence, Judge Hittner emphasized several times to Caldwell and his attorney that it only takes one fentanyl pill to kill.

Caldwell was running a multi-drug distribution operation out of Caldwell’s car shop, North West Customz. He was known to carry a firearm during his operations and distributed kilogram amounts of meth as well as counterfeit opiate pills that contained fentanyl.

“With approximately 500 fatal overdoses each year in Houston alone linked to fentanyl, we cannot overstate the danger it presents to our communities,” said Hamdani. “We will not stop fighting to protect the citizens of the Southern District of Texas. This case was a great example of that effort and demonstration of the collaboration between federal and local agencies in bringing a meth and fentanyl distributor to justice.”

The investigation began after agents discovered Caldwell was supplying meth to another individual who was distributing counterfeit opiate pills. Those pills contained meth.

Further law enforcement efforts revealed Caldwell sold counterfeit opiate pills on two difference occasions to two others. Those individuals have also been convicted.

Previously released on bond, Caldwell was taken into custody following the sentencing where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Texas Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, Houston Police Department and Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct 4.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy Leo prosecuted the case.

OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.