Feds sentence 5 for drug trafficking in New Mexico, laundering money to Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A federal judge sentenced five people in a fentanyl and meth trafficking case that moved drugs from Arizona to New Mexico and sent money to Mexico.

The group operated between Phoenix and Valencia County from July 2022 to June 2023, according to court documents. The documents show the group obtained drugs in “bulk” from Arizona, including fentanyl pills imported from Culiacán, Mexico and then moved them to New Mexico for redistribution.

Law enforcement intercepted about 100,000 fentanyl pills in November 2022 and about 50,000 more in May 2023.

Authorities said Irving Alvarez Rosales, 48, and Julio Alberto Zamora Ramirez, 33, coordinated large-scale fentanyl trafficking from Phoenix. They were also accused of taking part in a money laundering scheme that sent drug proceeds from Arizona to Mexico through money service businesses using false identification information.

Who was sentenced?

Rosales and Ramirez each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and conspiracy to launder money. A judge sentenced Rosales to 138 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Ramirez received 108 months and four years of supervised release.

Roberto Zavala Roman, 32, pleaded guilty to conspiracy. He received 34 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Authorities said he arranged the sale and mailing of about 500 fentanyl pills to a buyer in May 2023.

Efren Torres Ruiz, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He received 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

Rodigo Rojas, 49, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. A judge sentenced him to 70 months in prison and four years of supervised release.

Court documents show Rojas traveled on multiple drug trafficking trips between Arizona and New Mexico:

• Nov. 17, 2022: Authorities stopped a semi-truck in Bernalillo County carrying about 12.6 kilograms of fentanyl pills and 10 kilograms of methamphetamine.
• May 28, 2023: Authorities found about 6 kilograms of fentanyl pills and 18 kilograms of methamphetamine in a truck towing a vehicle.

The DEA El Paso Division investigated the case with help 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. Federal prosecutors in New Mexico handled the case. There is no parole in the federal system.

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