Former Mexican Mayor Gets 21 Years In Prison For Drug Trafficking
PHOENIX - The Drug Enforcement (DEA) today announced that former Fronteras, Sonora, Mexico Mayor Arturo Reyes Trujillo was sentenced to over 21 years in prison for drug trafficking and money laundering. Trujillo was elected municipal (mayor) in Fronteras, Sonora, Mexico in 2012, and was arrested in September of that year. He previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. In total, Trujillo was involved in sending approximately 1,000 kilograms of cocaine throughout the United States and laundered approximately $20 million, according to the DEA who led the investigation.
“Arturo Reyes Trujillo preyed upon the addiction of American citizens to enrich himself and his friends by selling cocaine and laundering the illegal proceeds gained from these crimes,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Doug Coleman. “His lengthy sentence shows that DEA and our partners will never relent in our mission to protect the American people from the scourge of drug trafficking and abuse, and bring those responsible to face justice in United States court rooms.”
According to the details of the case, from 2003-2007, the (who was then living in Tucson) was the head of the drug trafficking organization that hired a network of individuals to deliver multi-hundred kilogram shipments of cocaine, using passenger cars and tractor-trailer trucks, throughout the United States. The organization also brought back to Arizona millions of dollars in proceeds from cocaine sales. Law enforcement authorities seized over 77 kilograms of cocaine and over $490,000 in drug proceeds.
In addition to DEA, the Internal Revenue Service Office of Criminal Investigations was instrumental in the case. Additionally, the Government of Mexico cooperated with Trujillo’s extradition to the United States.
