Austin man pleads guilty in deadly fentanyl overdose case

An Austin man pleaded guilty in a federal court to distribution of fentanyl causing death.

According to court documents, David Lee Jr., 46, was identified as a supplier of counterfeit oxycodone tablets and other counterfeit prescription pills in the investigation of the overdose death of an 18-year-old. 

As part of the investigation, a Williamson County Sheriff’s Office investigator purchased eight oxycodone tablets from Lee. A laboratory analysis determined the tablets contained fentanyl, tramadol and florofentanyl. 

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Lee himself initiated a subsequent sale of 1,000 oxycodone tablets to the investigator. The lab analysis from that controlled-buy revealed the tablets contained fentanyl. Other controlled-buys were made from one of Lee’s co-conspirators, Virginia Zepeda.

Lee faces a penalty of 20 years to life in prison.