Five Sentenced for Trafficking Drugs from Arizona to New Mexico

Five individuals have received federal prison sentences for their roles in a fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking ring that moved drugs from Arizona into New Mexico while funneling drug proceeds to Mexico.

Operating between Phoenix and Valencia County from July 2022 to June 2023, the network obtained drugs in “bulk” from Arizona, including fentanyl pills imported from Culiacán, Mexico. Court documents show the operation relied on money service businesses using false identification information to launder cash.

Authorities seized roughly 100,000 fentanyl pills in November 2022 alongside an additional 50,000 units in May 2023. The prosecution was managed by federal attorneys in New Mexico, based on an investigation led by the DEA El Paso Division with assistance from the DEA Phoenix Division, DEA Yuma Division, DEA King City Division, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Pueblo of Pojoaque Tribal Police Department and New Mexico State Police.

Irving Alvarez Rosales, 48, and Julio Alberto Zamora Ramirez, 33, coordinated large-scale fentanyl trafficking from Phoenix and participated in the money laundering scheme. Rosales pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and conspiracy to launder money, earning a sentence of 138 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Ramirez pleaded guilty to the same charges and received 108 months in prison with four years of supervised release.

Other members of the ring received varying terms based on their specific involvement. Roberto Zavala Roman, 32, pleaded guilty to conspiracy after arranging the sale and mailing of about 500 fentanyl pills to a buyer in May 2023, resulting in a 34-month prison sentence and three years of supervised release.

Five people sentenced in federal court for drug trafficking case — KOAT

Efren Torres Ruiz, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, receiving 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Admitting guilt to conspiracy charges alongside counts for possessing fentanyl and methamphetamine with intent to distribute, 49-year-old Rodigo Rojas was handed a prison term of 70 months accompanied by a four-year period of supervised release.

Court records detail specific transport runs undertaken by Rojas. On November 17, 2022, law enforcement officers intercepted a semi-truck within Bernalillo County that was transporting roughly 12.6 kilograms of fentanyl pills alongside 10 kilograms of methamphetamine. On May 28, 2023, law enforcement officers discovered about 6 kilograms of fentanyl pills and 18 kilograms of methamphetamine inside a truck that was towing another vehicle.