Local men charged with distributing fentanyl resulting in th...

HOUSTON - A 24-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to remain in custody for trafficking fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Antonio Curo has now appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan, at which time the court found him to be a danger to the community and a flight risk and ordered he remain in custody pending further criminal proceedings.

The indictment, returned Sept. 18, alleges Curo was a member of an ongoing 13-month conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl resulting in death. According to records filed in the case, he recruited and directed accomplices and exercised decision making authority over the distribution of fentanyl during the conspiracy. He set the prices for the pills; negotiated, planned and organized their sale; prepared them for shipment; mailed parcels containing pills to individuals across the country; received payments; and claimed a right to the majority share of the drug proceeds, according to the allegations.

"Fentanyl is the greatest drug threat of our time, killing young people at catastrophic rates and devastating families in communities across the United States," said Hamdani. "Curo allegedly used modern day methods and traditional means--social media and the mail--to help market and distribute his deadly fentanyl stock to victims near and far. Today's announcement is a step towards achieving justice and closure for the families of the victims in this case."

In December 2023, Curo allegedly distributed fentanyl that resulted in the death of a 24-year-old male in Connecticut. The victim had ordered pills via a social media and instant messaging service, according to records, and Curo sent them through the mail. The victim's girlfriend allegedly saw him receive the package and ingest the pills before he died.

Records revealed he was also linked to shipments sent in January to Vermont and Iowa. A 16-year old juvenile residing in Vermont had allegedly purchased and received approximately 30 pills in a glass bottle. The pills were determined to be alprazolam. This individual did not ingest any of the substances.

Authorities also identified the intended recipient of the Iowa parcel who had ordered what she thought was Oxycodone through the mail, according to court records. Authorities allegedly tested the pills and found they actually contained fentanyl with a net weight of 5.1 grams. She alleges she was not aware the pills she ordered contained fentanyl.

Also in January, Curo again distributed fentanyl that resulted in the death of another, according to the charges. On Jan. 19, a 16-year-old female allegedly died after consuming pills that contained fentanyl. Curo had directly provided the pills to her, according to the allegations.

The victim's father had found her deceased in her room with an imprinted "M-30" pill in a small, orange plastic bag next to her body, according to records. Lab testing confirmed the pill allegedly contained fentanyl.

Records also indicate a trip Curo paid for occurred from an address near the minor victim's residence to an address near the his residence on the day before the minor victim died.

At the hearing, the court heard that Curo was aware of the deaths and that he knew he was selling fentanyl.

Curo is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death or serious bodily injury as well as six substantive counts of distribution of fentanyl from August 2023 through April 2024. He is also charged with a conspiracy to distribute and distribution of alaprazolam commonly known as "Xanax."

At the time of his arrest, he also had several pills in his possession, according to the charges.

If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years imprisonment and up to life as well as a maximum $10 million possible fine.

Mikalob Hill, 24, Houston, is also charged in relation to the case. He allegedly picked up several parcels containing fentanyl at Curo's direction and rented his mailbox to him. He faces one count of possession with intent to distribute alprazolam and faces up to five years in prison, upon conviction.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and Homeland Security Investigations in Houston conducted the investigation with the assistance of the USPIS in Vermont and Iowa and USPIS - Office of Inspector General, Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office, Fort Bend County Narcotics Task Force, Houston Police Department and Harris County Sherriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anibal J. Alaniz and Casey N. MacDonald are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

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