HSI Laredo, Multiagency Investigation Results in Third Person Charged With Selling Fentanyl Resulting in Death

LAREDO, Texas — A federal grand jury returned an indictment against a South Texas man for his role in the conspiracy to distribute fentanyl that caused the death of another following an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations along with law enforcement partners.

Rene Antonio Melendez, 31, a former resident of Laredo now living in Appleton, Wisconsin, was arrested in Wisconsin without incident. He made his initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge in the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Authorities will transport him to Laredo for all subsequent proceedings.

According to court documents, the three-count indictment returned July 9 alleges Melendez conspired with other people to distribute fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, to another individual March 11, 2023. That person subsequently died after using the drug, according to the charges. The indictment also charges Melendez with one count of distributing fentanyl that resulted in death as well as one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Melendez’s federal indictment is the third in Laredo in the last year charging someone with distributing fentanyl resulting in death. There others were in August 2023 and December 2023.

If convicted, Melendez faces up to life in federal prison as well as a possible $1 million maximum fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the Southern District of Texas Brian Bajew and Leslie Cortez are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.