Beaumont man gets more than 4 years in federal prison in fentanyl case

A Beaumont man will spend over four years in federal prison for possessing fentanyl for distribution, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas Damien M. Diggs announced.

Harry Francis Lowenthal, 66, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, Diggs said in a news release Thursday. U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone sentenced him Tuesday to 50 months in federal prison.

Information presented in court said Lowenthal was arrested after an investigation into fentanyl distribution.

During his arrest, he was found to have a white powdery substance and later admitted to possessing cocaine and fentanyl and to selling heroin, authorities said.

Officers searched his home and found a firearm, $5,000 in cash, and a small amount of suspected heroin and fentanyl, well as indicators of drug trafficking, including plastic baggies, a digital scale and lactose powder commonly used to "bulk up" drugs, authorities said.

A lab analysis confirmed the discovery was approximately 19 grams of a fentanyl/heroin mix.

"Fentanyl, even in small amounts, is a potent synthetic opioid, approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin," Diggs said. "Today's sentence should send a clear message that this Office, working closely with our state and federal law enforcement partners, will continue to prosecute and seek to hold accountable drug dealers who distribute this poison and exploit addictions in the Eastern District of Texas."

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Beaumont Police Department, and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tommy L. Coleman with help from the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office.