A former Texas Tech University professor has pleaded guilty to leading a fentanyl distribution conspiracy, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.
The defendant had held a faculty position in marketing and supply chain at Texas Tech. The Justice Department said the guilty plea was entered today.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the charge centers on the professor's leadership role in organizing and running a fentanyl trafficking operation. The department's announcement did not name a co-conspirator or specify the geographic scope of the distribution network.
The Justice Department confirmed that the former academic's position was in the marketing and supply chain department at the university. A professor in that field now faces federal consequences tied to heading a fentanyl conspiracy, per the department's announcement.