Domestic trafficker imprisoned for possessing over 2,000 counterfeit pills

LAREDO, Texas – A 41-year-old resident of Lake Charles, Louisiana, has been sentenced for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Walter Wellington Somers pleaded guilty April 2, 2024.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Somers to serve 60 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Somers had travelled from Louisiana and was planning to return to sell the fentanyl pills for a greater profit and that he has had numerous prior convictions and contacts with law enforcement.

“All too often, we hear tragic stories about someone’s young son or daughter dying after taking a single pill laced with fentanyl, and it's people like this defendant who put that one lethal dose in their hand,” said Ganjei. “The seizure of Mr. Somers’ deadly wares kept these pills from hitting the streets and undoubtedly saved many lives. The Department of Justice wishes to thank the staff at the Embassy Suites for their quick thinking in recognizing the drugs and alerting authorities. This is an example of community action leading to a great result.”

“DEA’s diligent investigative efforts helped save countless lives,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of the Houston Division. Only two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a potentially lethal dose, and Somers had thousands of fake fentanyl pills that could have devastated the Laredo community. DEA is unwavering in its commitment to eradicate these dangerous drugs from our neighborhoods and bring those responsible for dealing these deadly drugs to justice.”

On Dec. 23, 2023, law enforcement responded to a call from the Embassy Suites Hotel in Laredo. Hotel staff found what they believed to be drugs in one of the rooms while trying to clean it.

Law enforcement arrived on scene and observed Somers attempting to get back into the room. He claimed he was only there to pay for a television he had broken.

Authorities conducted a search of the hotel room and discovered a silver zipper bag containing several clear plastic bags with a large number of small blue circular pills. They were imprinted with an “M-30” logo. Law enforcement confirmed Somers had been staying in the room and checked out earlier in the day before returning to the hotel.

A laboratory analysis later determined there were a total of 2,319 blue pills which contained fentanyl. The investigation revealed the source of supply was from Sinaloa, Mexico.

The investigation revealed Somers had traveled from Louisiana to meet a friend in South Texas. In phone messages between the two, they discussed collecting money and acquiring narcotics. In one audio message, the individual told Somers if he sent $700 or $800 that evening, someone would front them 3,000 pills.

The friend also sent Somers a video of him holding three bags of blue M-30 pills that were identical in size, shape and packaging to the pills seized Dec. 23, 2023. 

Somers will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

DEA and Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Chamberlin and Brittany Jensen prosecuted the case.

This case is being prosecuted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF is the largest anti-crime task force in the country. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

More information on the dangers of fentanyl can be found on the DEA’s website. #OnePillCanKill