Fort Worth resident Melvin Matthews has been ordered to serve 40 years in state prison after a narcotics case that prosecutors say uncovered thousands of fentanyl pills, other drugs, and a gun, and ultimately cost him his probation.
According to a post from the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office on X, Matthews was convicted of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, had his probation revoked and was sentenced to 40 years. Prosecutors said Fort Worth narcotics officers seized more than 5,000 fentanyl pills, about 20 grams of cocaine and a firearm during a July 16, 2024 search of his apartment. Matthews was later arrested in February 2026 on charges that included possession of fentanyl and cocaine.
Thanks to the Fort Worth Police Department and its Narcotics Section for their work on this case and their commitment to keeping our community safe. pic.twitter.com/dIcmxf3qjo
— Tarrant County DA (@TarrantCountyDA) May 5, 2026
Seizure and charges
The case landed with prosecutors in the DA’s narcotics unit, part of a broader effort the office launched to target fentanyl-related and other high-impact drug prosecutions. The DA has spotlighted similar cases and publicly thanked local police units that assist with drug investigations, presenting it as a coordinated push between prosecutors and law enforcement to go after alleged dealers rather than just street-level users, per the Tarrant County District Attorney.
Why prosecutors called it serious
Public health data cited by prosecutors help explain the focus on fentanyl supply. Tarrant County recorded about 185 fentanyl-involved overdose deaths in 2023, and synthetic narcotics ranked among the leading drugs in local overdose reports. as per the Tarrant County Public Health…