The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from federal agents, has arrested Diamon Leann Yates on a federal indictment for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance resulting in death and/or serious bodily injury.
The arrest stems from an investigation launched after a female juvenile was found deceased from an overdose on July 17, 2024, in Hopkins County. Authorities say the investigation traced the source of the pills back to Yates.
The victim’s body was examined by American Forensics, with Dr. G conducting the autopsy. Toxicology results confirmed the presence of N-Pyrrolidino Protonitazene, a then-rare synthetic opioid. At the time, this marked the first case involving the drug in Texas, and only the seventh in the United States.
Because the substance was not yet scheduled under Texas law, the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office partnered with federal agencies to pursue charges at the federal level in order to seek the maximum penalty.
The Sheriff’s Office thanked federal authorities for their collaboration and reaffirmed their commitment to holding drug distributors accountable and seeking justice for victims of overdose-related deaths.
