Dallas man sentenced to over 16 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl that killed Frisco man

PLANO, Texas - A Dallas man who sold fentanyl-laced pills has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today.

Benjamin Linder, also known as Benzo, 23, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and was sentenced to 200 months in federal prison on April 30, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder III.

According to information presented in court, on Dec. 24, 2021, law enforcement responded to a Frisco residence regarding an unresponsive person. Upon arrival officers were informed by the father of the victim that he had found his 20-year-old son unresponsive on the living room floor. Paramedics arrived but were unable to revive the victim and he was pronounced deceased at the residence.

Investigators were able to access the victim's cellular phone and discovered the phone contained a contact labeled as "Benzo," later identified as the defendant, Benjamin Linder. Investigators learned that on Dec. 23, 2021, the victim sent a message to Linder requesting to purchase pills and "lean," which is a promethazine-codeine syrup. A series of text messages between the victim and Linder revealed they arranged to meet in a parking lot on the campus of the University of Texas at Dallas, where the victim purchased fentanyl-laced pills and "lean" from Linder. Investigators were able to determine that the victim had been communicating with Linder since at least November 10, 2021. Investigators were able to access Linder's text messages as well, which showed Linder sent an unidentified person messages stating, "So that kid that died" and "I jus found out I sold him the drugs."

Toxicology reports identified the victim's cause of death as toxic effects of fentanyl, flubromazepam, trazodone, hydroxyzine, and promethazine. Linder was indicted by a federal grand jury on Jan. 12, 2023, and charged with federal drug trafficking violations.

This case was investigated by the Frisco Police Department Special Investigations Unit and the Collin County Medical Examiner's Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.

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