Honduran fentanyl dealer sentenced to three years in prison

A Honduran man known for selling drugs in San Francisco has been sentenced to three years in prison. Franklin Hernandez-Turcios has a long history of drug-related arrests dating back to 2016. He has been deported three times but returned each time to continue selling drugs. Hernandez-Turcios was recently convicted for selling fentanyl, a powerful opioid. He was arrested in April 2024 after selling $20 worth of the drug to an undercover officer. Authorities found nearly two ounces of fentanyl in his backpack at the time of his arrest. U.S. District Judge William Orrick sentenced him to two three-year prison terms that will run at the same time. After serving his time, Hernandez-Turcios will be deported once again. His lawyer mentioned that he struggled financially and plans to find work in construction after his deportation. The defense attorney also noted that Hernandez-Turcios has used drugs recreationally. He reportedly started using fentanyl to cope with kidney pain and lacked access to medical care.