19-year-old San Marcos resident arrested for fentanyl distribution

Sierra Martin | Managing Editor

AUSTIN – Daemon Lye Garcia, a 19-year-old from San Marcos, was arrested with 13 other people on criminal charges for their alleged involvement in fentanyl distribution in the Austin area. If convicted, Garcia faces up to life in prison. Several suspects were from the area, including Lockhart and Austin.

Garcia has been booked in the Hays County Jail several times since 2019, according to public records. Some of his previous charges include theft of a firearm, evading arrest, possession of a controlled substance and manufacturing or possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

According to court documents, Marcos Garcia, 18, of Somerton, AZ; Oliver Garcia, 20, of Lockhart; Christopher Brook, 23, of Austin; Jaime Cabrales, 23, of Austin; Matthew Juan, 19, of Austin; Adi Martinez Marquez, 19, of Austin; Andrew Ruben Ramirez, 23, of Austin; Ezequiel Azmitia-Jimenez, 19, of Lockhart; Michael Bauman, 18, of Austin; Daemon Lye Garcia, 19, of San Marcos; Ernest Ochoa, 18, of Austin; and Josue Nolasco-Campuzano, 20, of Live Oak, were arrested on charges of distributing fentanyl in the Austin area.

“This operation demonstrates this Office’s commitment to the disruption and prosecution of criminal organizations destroying communities through the distribution of deadly counterfeit prescriptions laced with fentanyl,” said U. S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff said in a news release.  “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to confront this escalating problem.”

“Today’s coordinated law enforcement operation dismantled an enterprise responsible for the distribution of counterfeit pills; these fake pills laced with fentanyl were clandestinely manufactured to mimic the prescription pharmaceutical Oxycodone,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux, Houston Division.  “Counterfeit pills have become a real and viable threat to the American people.  We caution every person to never consume pharmaceuticals unless under licensed medical care and sourced from a licensed pharmacy.  The DEA will continue to relentlessly pursue any individual or organization that threatens our communities with these fake deadly pills.” 

Marcos Garcia, Oliver Garcia, Brook, Cabrales, Juan, Marquez, Ramirez and Azmitia are charged by federal indictment with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.  If convicted, each defendant faces up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Bauman, Daemon Garcia, Ochoa and Nolasco are charged by federal criminal complaint of possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted, each defendant faces up to life in prison.

The DEA, FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Austin, Cedar Park, San Angelo, and San Marcos Police Departments are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Marshall is prosecuting the case.