DEA Tucson target in parcel trafficking case sentenced to over 7 years in prison
TUCSON – Special Agent in Charge Doug Coleman announces last week’s sentencing of Valentin Guizar, 27, of Tucson, Ariz., to 92 months’ imprisonment for his role in a drug trafficking and money laundering organization. Guizar had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
DEA’s investigation into Guizar began in 2015 and identified him as a drug trafficker who frequently used the U.S. Postal Service to mail parcels of cocaine to various locations on the East Coast. Guizar stated as part of his plea, that between August 2015 and April 2016, he sent 29 such parcels to North Carolina and Florida, and laundered over $13,000 in drug proceeds.
“The traffickers in this investigation mistakenly believed they could conceal their illicit activities by utilizing parcel shipment services to avoid detection by DEA and our law enforcement partners,” said Doug Coleman, Special Agent in Charge of DEA in Arizona. “Our Agents are well equipped, well trained and always supported in their efforts to identify, target and dismantle drug trafficking organizations that operate within our communities.”
U.S. District Judge James A. Soto recently sentenced other members of this organization for their criminal activities including: Adan Antonio Alvarez, 40, of Tucson, Ariz., to 57 months’ imprisonment and David Galvan Haro, 47, of Tucson, Ariz., to 84 months’ imprisonment. Seven other defendants convicted in the case for various drug trafficking and money laundering crimes received sentences ranging from probation to 12 months’ imprisonment.
A related defendant, Luis Alfonso Acuna, failed to appear for his sentencing hearing on July 11, 2018, and now has a warrant out for his arrest. Another related defendant, Francisco Espinoza-Flores, is also a fugitive.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, who were assisted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Tucson Police Department.
