A Las Vegas man has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for his involvement in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy. United States District Judge Anne R. Traum handed down an 80-month sentence, followed by four years of supervised release, to Michael Anthony Rivas. The government had recommended a sentence of 110 months.
Court documents state that from February 2023 to March 2023, Rivas distributed and sold fentanyl as part of a conspiracy in the Las Vegas area with co-defendant Crystal Fawn Hoag. Together, they sold about 693 grams of fentanyl, which is approximately 8,500 pills.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the residence shared by Hoag and Rivas and recovered three firearms: a black Smith & Wesson, a Black Xd Springfield Arms, and a black and tan Taurus. Officers also found around 67 grams of counterfeit M30 pills suspected to contain fentanyl and roughly 113 grams of methamphetamine.
Both defendants were prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions.
Officials noted the serious risk posed by fentanyl in the community. “Fentanyl presents a significant and growing danger to our community and our children. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine, and only a few milligrams of this chemical compound equivalent to a few grains of table salt are enough to cause a fatal overdose in adults or children,” authorities stated.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, Deputy Special Agent in Charge Anthony Chrysanthis for DEA’s Los Angeles Division, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Nathaniel Holland for the FBI Las Vegas Division.
The case was investigated by the DEA and FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Brenna Bush and Steven Rose prosecuted it.
