West Hartford Man Sentenced For Making Fake Oxycodone Pills

WEST HARTFORD, CT — A West Hartford man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for importing a pill press from China to make fake oxycodone pills that contained heroin, according to authorities. Pablo Texidor, 40, was also sentenced this week to one year of supervised release following the prison term, U.S. States Attorney John H. Durham announced in a press release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 15, 2017, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials inspected a parcel from China that was being shipped to Texidor’s West Hartford home. The parcel, which was described as containing “machine spare parts,” contained one set of tablet press dies, according to authorities.

“Pill presses are often used by individuals engaged in the manufacturing of distribution-quantities of pills or capsules,” the States Attorney’s Office wrote in a press release. “A pill die is used with a pill press to cut and mark tablets. The investigation revealed that five parcels had been shipped previously from China to Texidor’s residence. Four of the parcels were described as containing ‘machine spare parts,’ and one parcel was described as containing a ‘hole puncher machine for sample.’”

DEA agents raided Texidor's residence on March 30, 2017 and seized a tableting press, seven pill dies, 99 fake oxycodone pills, a bag containing approximately 4 grams of heroin, and a bag containing approximately 500 grams of a binding powder, according authorities. A subsequent lab test revealed that the pills contained no oxycodone, but instead contained heroin.

Texidor pleaded guilty last August to one count of importation of any product used to manufacture a controlled substance, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of four years. Texidor, who is released on a $50,000 bond, was ordered to report to prison on May 1.

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