Clarence Nero, 56, of Atlanta, Georgia, has been sentenced to 22 years (264 months) in federal prison for his role in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy spanning multiple states, including East Texas.
U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant handed down the sentence on June 24, 2025, following Nero’s conviction after a three-day jury trial for conspiracy to traffic fentanyl.
Evidence presented in court revealed that Nero organized a drug trafficking network responsible for smuggling fentanyl from across the U.S. border into Arizona and distributing it from Phoenix to New Orleans and along the East Coast.
The investigation began after a traffic stop on February 14, 2022, on Highway 380 in Denton County. During the stop, authorities found 2.5 kilograms of fentanyl hidden in a false compartment in the vehicle driven by Quanita Brown. A police K-9 alerted to the vehicle, leading to the discovery of the narcotics. Further investigation identified Nero as the principal supplier behind the distribution scheme.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative focused on dismantling cartels, transnational criminal organizations, and eliminating violent crime. The initiative combines efforts from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Denton County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Anderson and Chris Rapp.
