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Denton County woman sentenced to federal prison for fatal fentanyl overdose
By U.S. Department of Justice
Feb 21, 2025
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Sherman, Texas – A Denton woman has been sentenced to over 19 years in federal prison for her role in a fatal fentanyl overdose in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. 

Tiffane Chantial Volz, 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant on February 18, 2025. 

Co-defendant, Courtney Green, 28, also of Denton, pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison on January 30, 2025, by Judge Mazzant.  

According to information presented in court, on April 15, 2023, law enforcement officers responded to a reported overdose death on Heatherton Drive in Celina, Texas.  Autopsy results determined the victim died of pulmonary congestion and edema due to the toxic effects of fentanyl.  An investigation revealed emails and text messages between the victim and Green discussing the distribution of prescription pills.  Further investigation determined Volz to be Green’s source of supply.  

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a Public Safety Alert warning Americans of the alarming increase in the lethality and availability of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine.  The Public Safety Alert coincides with the launch of DEA’s One Pill Can Kill Public Awareness Campaign to educate the public of the dangers of counterfeit pills and urges all Americans to take only medications prescribed by a medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist.

The campaign aims to raise public awareness of a significant nationwide surge in fake pills that are mass-produced by criminal drug networks in labs, deceptively marketed as legitimate prescription pills, and are killing unsuspecting Americans at an unprecedented rate. For more information, please visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill

This case was investigated by the Celina Police Department, Denton County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.