Nebraska Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl Resulting in Death

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Carlos Lopez Montoya, 32, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 18, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Lopez Montoya to 240 months' imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Lopez Montoya is released from prison, he will begin a three-year term of supervised release.

On March 5, 2024, the victim was found unresponsive in an Omaha residence. The Drug Enforcement Administration's overdose task force investigated the case and was able to track how the fentanyl pills came into the possession of the victim as follows: a co-defendant located in California, sold the pills to Lopez Montoya in Grand Island; who then sold them to co-defendant, Ventura Montoya Gonsalez; who sold them to co-defendant, Asia Blackburn, in Omaha; who sold them to Deyon Downing; who finally sold the pills to the victim before the victim died. The victim's cause of death was acute acetyl fentanyl, fentanyl fluorofentanyl, paroxetine, and quetiapine intoxication. All the parties were in agreement to distribute fentanyl.

Asia Blackburn pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 320 months' imprisonment. Ventura Montoya Gonsalez and Deyon Downing were each sentenced to 240 months' imprisonment. An arrest warrant for one co-defendant remains active.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Overdose Task Force.