Under Texas law, fentanyl is treated more harshly than almost any other drug, with its own penalty group and punishments that reach life in prison for large quantities, which is why a case like the one against rapper FBG Casino would carry enormous stakes in a Collin County or Dallas County courtroom. Rico Deville Buice, known as FBG Casino, is the older brother of superstar Future and a longtime member of the Freebandz crew. According to TMZ and Baller Alert, he pleaded guilty in federal court this week to one count of conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute, a charge with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life. The case began in November 2025 when FBI and DEA agents searched an Airbnb in Forest Park, Georgia, and reported finding bricks of suspected fentanyl, about 17 kilograms by the complaint’s count, along with roughly $380,000 in cash. He agreed to forfeit $388,930, his request to stay free until sentencing was denied, and sentencing is set for January. His case is a federal matter in Georgia, but it offers a clear window into how Texas handles fentanyl charges.
The following is general legal commentary from L & L Law Group, PLLC on how Texas law treats these issues in Collin County and across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It is not legal advice about any specific case, and anyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
How Does Texas Classify Fentanyl?
Texas places fentanyl and its analogs in their own category, Penalty Group 1-B, created by the Legislature in 2021 to separate fentanyl from other Penalty Group 1 drugs like heroin and cocaine. Manufacturing, delivering, or possessing fentanyl with intent to deliver is prosecuted under Texas Health and Safety Code Section 481.1123. As with other Texas drug laws, the weight used to set the punishment is the aggregate weight, including any adulterants or dilutants, so cutting agents and pill fillers count toward the total.
What Are the Penalties for Large Fentanyl Quantities in Texas?
The penalties are among the most severe in Texas drug law. Under Section 481.1123, 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams is punishable by 10 to 99 years or life in prison; 200 to 400 grams carries 15 to 99 years or life and a fine of up to $200,000; and 400 grams or more carries 20 to 99 years or life and a fine of up to $500,000. A seizure measured in kilograms, like the one described in the Georgia case, would fall far into the top tier. Those mandatory minimums are higher than the equivalent tiers for most other drugs.
Would a Case Like This Be Federal or State in DFW?
It could be either. Large seizures involving FBI or DEA agents are frequently charged in federal court, which in this area means the Northern District of Texas in Dallas and Fort Worth or the Eastern District of Texas, which includes Collin County and Plano. Federally, conspiracy to possess 400 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture with intent to distribute carries a 10-year mandatory minimum. Smaller cases, including traffic stops and local investigations, are typically handled in state district courts in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties under Chapter 481.
What Happens to Cash Seized in a Texas Drug Case?
Cash found near drugs is often pursued through civil asset forfeiture. In Texas, prosecutors may seek forfeiture of money and property alleged to be proceeds or instruments of a drug offense under Chapter 59 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, while federal cases use federal forfeiture laws. Forfeiture proceedings have their own deadlines and burdens, and owners who wish to contest a seizure need to act quickly. As the Georgia plea shows, forfeiture is also frequently negotiated as part of a plea agreement.
What Defenses Exist in a Texas Fentanyl Case?
Defenses commonly focus on the legality of the search, whether the accused actually possessed or controlled the drugs, and the reliability of lab testing and weight. In shared spaces like rental homes, apartments, or vehicles, the state must link the accused to the drugs through more than mere presence. The defense may also challenge the warrant affidavit, the chain of custody, and how investigators calculated weight. In federal cases, issues like the safety valve and cooperation can affect whether a mandatory minimum applies.
How L&L Law Group Can Help
L & L Law Group, PLLC defends clients in Frisco, Collin County, and throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area facing state and federal drug charges, including fentanyl cases. Our attorneys scrutinize search warrants, lab reports, and weight calculations, contest unlawful forfeitures, and fight to reduce exposure to mandatory minimum sentences. If you or a loved one is under investigation or has been charged, contact L & L Law Group for a confidential consultation.
Is fentanyl possession a felony in Texas? Yes. Possessing even a small amount of a Penalty Group 1-B substance is a felony in Texas, and the punishment rises sharply with weight.
Does the weight include pill fillers? Yes. Texas uses the aggregate weight of the mixture, including adulterants and dilutants, which can push a case into a higher punishment range.
Can a conspiracy charge apply if I never touched the drugs? Potentially. Both federal law and Texas law allow conspiracy charges based on an agreement and an overt act, but prosecutors must still prove the accused knowingly joined the agreement.
Reporting this commentary is based on:
TMZ — Rapper Future’s brother FBG Casino reaches plea deal in fentanyl case
Baller Alert — FBG Casino pleads guilty in fentanyl case, faces 10 years minimum