A North Texas man was sentenced to almost 23 years in federal prison this week after he pleaded guilty to supplying pills laced with fentanyl that resulted in two fatal overdoses.
24-year-old Rhett Barclay of Wise County was indicted in September 2023 on two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and pleaded guilty in February.
On Thursday, he was sentenced to 275 months in federal prison, or a little under 23 years, by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman.
According to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Barclay admitted to being involved in three overdoses, two of which were fatal. According to the release, in January 2021 Barclay gave a single fentanyl pill to two women, who split the pill.
Both women overdosed, the release said. One was able to be resuscitated by paramedics, but the other woman died.
In January 2023, Barclay obtained 40 fentanyl pills and his girlfriend, who was pregnant, ingested one of the pills. The release said she suffered a fatal overdose as the couple’s young child watched.
The Drug Enforcement Administration along with the Wise County sheriff’s office investigated the case, the release said.
Barclay’s attorney did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday.
DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Eduardo Chávez said in the release that fentanyl overdose deaths have had a devastating impact on North Texas communities.
“We are directing all our available resources to investigate those who distribute this deadly, illicit poison to our friends and family,” Chávez said. “Mr. Barclay, while responsible for the deaths of these individuals, also impacted countless others by his callous disregard for life. May others see this as a warning that DEA Fort Worth and our law enforcement partners across North Texas will continue to investigate drug distributors and seek significant jail sentences for their criminal activity.”
U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton said in the release that even a small amount of fentanyl is deadly.
“Those who traffic in fentanyl should know that the poison they peddle can take the lives of anyone who ingests it — even their nearest and dearest,” Simonton said. “Once again, this case proves that even half of one pill can kill.”
The release said that according to the DEA, six out of 10 pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose, and even one pill can be deadly.
