Former Fort Hood Army Sergeant sentenced for fentanyl distribution

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — A former Army Sergeant serving at Fort Hood is headed to prison after pleading guilty to the distribution of fentanyl.

U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel sentenced Eri Gutberto Parra-Lopez, 25, of Phoenix, AZ, to 72 months in prison last week.

Court documents show Parra, while on active-duty, sold 3,150 tablets of fentanyl to undercover officers in the Austin area. He was accused of dealing the synthetic opioid between May and July of 2021.

Earlier this year, Parra pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl.

“Fentanyl is flooding the United States at an alarming rate and our communities in Central Texas are not immune from its devastation,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “This case underscores our resolve to address the dangerous trafficking of fentanyl with all available resources. We will continue to prioritize and prosecute crimes involving this deadly poison and we are thankful for the outstanding work of our local, state, and federal partners.”

The DEA, Pflugerville and Austin Police Departments, and Army CID investigated the case with assistance from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office.

For more information on the dangers of fentanyl and DEA’s One Pill Can Kill campaign, click here.