A Houston man who investigators say was caught with more than 500 grams of fentanyl in late 2024 has been sentenced to 25 years in state prison, capping off a case that local officials describe as a huge victory for public safety in southeast Texas.
Cedric Derrell Potts pleaded guilty in June and got a 25-year sentence from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice following a November 2024 investigation by Montgomery County Precinct 3’s Criminal Interdiction Unit and allied agencies. Authorities say the bust removed a significant amount of the potent synthetic opioid from area streets and highlighted their larger effort to cut off trafficking pathways that feed Houston and adjacent communities.
Woodlands Online reported in a press release dated June 6, 2026, that Potts was detained in November 2024 on a charge of making and delivering a restricted substance under Penalty Group 1. According to the announcement, investigators seized more than 500 grams of fentanyl, and Potts later pleaded guilty before receiving a 25-year sentence. The constable’s office officially praised the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division and the Houston Police Department for their assistance with the inquiry.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, a dose of as low as two milligrams of fentanyl can be deadly, depending on a person’s size and tolerance. According to basic calculations, 500 grams equals about 500,000 milligrams; therefore, the amount reported in this case corresponds to approximately 250,000 potential 2-milligram dosages. This is the type of data that explains why officials regard significant fentanyl seizures as major public-safety achievements.
Montgomery County Precinct 3’s Criminal Interdiction Unit, which, according to its website, focuses on traffic interdiction and organized criminal threats, led the operation with assistance from state and city partners. Constable Ryan Gable was described by Woodlands Online as saying, “Constable Gable and his team are dedicated to protecting the public from criminals and those that exploit our communities. ” The case is being held up locally as an example of how that mission is carried out in actuality.
Under Texas law, the manufacture or delivery of Penalty Group 1 chemicals is punished based on weight, with penalties increasing dramatically as quantities grow. According to the Texas Health and Safety Code, delivery of four grams or more is considered a first-degree crime, while shipments of 400 grams or more result in severe penalties, including a minimum sentence of 15 years in jail. The statutory tiers are specified in the Texas statute.
As fentanyl-related overdoses have increased in recent years, Houston and statewide officials have stepped up interdiction efforts and public awareness programs. According to the Houston Chronicle, local and state advertising centered on the warning that “one pill can kill” is part of a larger effort to stem the flow of synthetic opioids into communities.
Potts’ plea and sentence officially end this investigation, but county officials say the Criminal Interdiction Unit will continue to investigate similar instances along major highways. The constable’s office cited the outcome as an example of how concerted efforts by local, state, and city partners may remove hazardous substances from circulation before they are chopped, pressed into pills, and sold on the street.
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