Drugs were found in two closets. Now four people indicted on federal charges.

A federal grand jury indicted four people this week for drug crimes related to the distribution of large quantities of the painkiller fentanyl.

Fentanyl is an extremely potent opiod, which is as much as 80 to 100 times more potent than morphine and 25 to 100 times more potent than heroin.

Those indicted were Gadiel Ortiz-Flores, 39, and Brian Walker Hensley, 29, both of Lawrenceburg, and Miguel Alberto Esparza, 29, and Megan Nicole Slone, 24, both of Lexington.

The indictment alleges that the four, beginning in August and continuing through Deccember, conspired to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl in Fayette and Anderson counties.

The indictment also alleges the distribution of fentanyl in Fayette on specific dates in August, September and November. The indictment also charges each of the defendants with possessing 400 grams or more of fentanyl with the intent to distribute it.

After Lexington police officers executed a search warrant Dec. 5 at the Leestown Road apartment of Esparza and Slone, they found one kilogram of a suspected controlled substance in a closet. It was packaged in a brick form. Digital scales and a quantity of U.S. currency was also found.

In a second closet, officers found about one-half kilogram of a suspected controlled substance.

If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum of life in prison.

This story was originally published December 15, 2017 at 4:32 PM with the headline "Drugs were found in two closets. Now four people indicted on federal charges.."