Number one dark web dealer of Oxycodone sentenced to over 13 years in federal prison

FORT WORTH, Texas - U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raybould, announced today that Samad Hamid Castro, 41, from New Jersey, was sentenced to 164 months in prison for the illicit distribution of Oxycodone to the Northern District of Texas and elsewhere. Castro pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance on April 1.

"Samad Castro's opioid trafficking enterprise flooded dangerous pills into North Texas neighborhoods, saturating our communities with an illicit drug that fuels addiction, breaks up families and strains local resources," said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. "Thanks to the decisive work of the DEA and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, we've dismantled a nationwide network that exploited the dark web and the mail system."

"Mr. Castro's actions contributed to the opioid crisis by disturbing dangerous narcotics through sophisticated dark web traffic," said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Joseph B. Tucker. "DEA and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in identifying and dismantling those who exploit technology to profit from addiction and endanger our communities."

"The USPIS strives to provide a safe environment for postal employees and Postal Service customers - the American public. This includes the investigation of illicit trafficking of narcotics through the U.S. Postal Service," said Inspector in Charge Kai Pickens of the Fort Worth Division. "We are thankful for our partnerships with the DEA and USAO. The USPIS will exhaust every resource to hold individuals accountable, even those who believe the dark web provides anonymity. For over 251 years we have protected the mail system and effectively enforced the laws of this nation."

In plea papers, Castro admitted that from October 2023 through August 2025, he knowingly and intentionally possessed and mailed parcels containing Oxycodone to various of his customers located in Fort Worth, Keller, Euless, Hurst, Mansfield, Watauga, Weatherford and elsewhere. The illicit narcotics transactions occurred through online dark web marketplaces, on which Castro was a listed seller. As part of his plea of guilty, Castro also agreed to forfeit over $700,000 worth of cryptocurrencies, over $10,000 in cash, and a 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Limited-all of which he admitted were proceeds of or derived from his drug-trafficking conduct.

Upon conducting a warranted search of Castro's residence in New Jersey, law enforcement found over 24,000 Oxycontin pills of varying dosages. Many of the recovered pills were mixed together with and concealed in bags of a Polish-branded breakfast cereal. Others were found stored in large prescription-type containers. The criminal complaint also noted that a shipping account associated with Castro shows that by September 2025, Castro had sent nearly 4,000 parcels to over 1,000 separate customers across 48 states plus the District of Columbia.

U.S. District Judge Mark T. Pittman sentenced Castro to 164 months in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

The Drug Enforcement Administration Fort Worth District Office - Dallas Division's Synthetic Precursor Enforcement and Regulatory Team and U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Fort Worth Division conducted the investigation, with assistance from DEA Newark - New Jersey Field Division and USPIS Newark Field Office - Philadelphia Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric B. Chen from the Fort Worth Division prosecuted the case.

###