PLANO, Texas — A Dallas man was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison after selling fentanyl-laced pills resulting in the death of a Frisco man, officials said.
Benjamin Linder, 23, was sentenced Wednesday for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. Linder, also known as Benzo, admitted to selling drugs that led to the overdose death of a 20-year-old Frisco man, according to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Texas.
The release, which does not name the victim, said police responded to a Frisco residence on Dec. 24, 2021 where the father of the victim said he found his son unresponsive in the living room.
He was pronounced dead on the scene, according to the release.
Linder was indicted by a federal grand jury on Jan. 12, 2023, and charged with federal drug trafficking violations.
Investigators found text messages on the victim's phone with a contact labeled “Benzo,” who police later confirmed was Linder. The victim contacted Linder on Dec. 23, 2021, seeking pills and “lean,” a promethazine-codeine syrup, the release said.
The victim and Linder met in a parking lot at the University of Texas at Dallas, where the victim purchased fentanyl-laced pills and “lean” from Linder, the release stated.
Linder’s own text messages revealed that he sent an unidentified person messages about the victim stating, “So that kid that died” and “I jus found out I sold him the drugs,” the release stated.
Toxicology reports identified the cause of death as toxic effects of fentanyl, flubromazepam, hydroxyzine and promethazine.
