United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SAN ANTONIO – A previously convicted felon was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 25 years in prison for possessing nearly 10,000 fentanyl pills intended for distribution along with a firearm.

According to court documents, Tyrell Ezekiel Darden, 25, of San Antonio, had two active felony arrest warrants from other matters. When law enforcement executed those warrants in July 2023, Darden was found attempting to flush dozens of blue pills down a toilet. In addition to the flushed pills, law enforcement officers found Darden in possession of more than 9,800 fentanyl pills that were shaped to look like Oxycodone pills and containing the “M30” stamp commonly associated with Oxycodone pills. Officers also discovered multiple firearms in the residence, including several that had been stolen, as well as $4,703 in U.S. currency and other high value items such as jewelry.

Darden was indicted on Nov. 1, 2023, for one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. He was arrested on Nov. 9, 2023, and pleaded guilty to both charges on June 18, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Alamo Heights Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Fedock prosecuted the case.