United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SEATTLE  - Jaime Montalvo-Mariscal, 27, of Pasco, Washington, was sentenced Nov. 18, 2019, after having pleaded guilty on July 22, 2019, for conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin. Senior U.S. District Judge Nielsen sentenced Montalvo-Mariscal to 210 months in prison.

DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Weis was pleased with the sentencing. “Opioid abuse is spreading like wildfire devastating our communities and we will aggressively pursue those most responsible for fueling the flames,” said Special Agent in Charge Weis.

According to information disclosed during court proceedings, Montalvo-Mariscal was a member of a substantial drug trafficking organization with direct ties to the Sinaloa cartel. During the investigation, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration seized over 40 pounds of methamphetamine, five pounds of heroin, approximately 40,000 counterfeit pharmaceutical pills laced with fentanyl (known on the street as “fake oxys” because they are designed to look like brand-name oxycodone pills), a cache of firearms and multiple rounds of ammunition. The investigation revealed that the DTO shipped this quantity of drugs to Eastern Washington on a bi-weekly basis. Montalvo-Mariscal’s role in the DTO included collecting cash proceeds from drug trafficking. During one two-month period, Montalvo collected drug proceeds exceeding $700,000, which he then sent to the DTO’s leadership in Sinaloa, Mexico.  

The quantity of fentanyl-laced pills seized during this investigation represented one of the largest seizures of its kind in the Eastern District of Washington. Fentanyl is largely responsible for the increase in drug overdoses and deaths in the community. Based upon targeted investigations by the DEA, Tri-Cities FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington, law enforcement was able to identify, arrest and prosecute multiple fentanyl distributors like Montalvo who were supplying distributors between 2,500 and 5,000 pills per week in this area.

During sentencing proceedings, Senior Judge Nielsen described fentanyl as the most dangerous and insidious drug in the community. While recognizing that Mr. Montalvo-Mariscal had no previous criminal history, Senior Judge Nielsen emphasized the importance of deterrence in imposing sentence, given the staggering quantity of drugs involved and the horrific impact those drugs have on the community.

“Counterfeit pharmaceutical pills laced with fentanyl that are intentionally made by drug trafficking organizations to look like oxycodone create a very serious risk to the health and safety of the community,” U.S. Attorney Hyslop said. “Targeting those who manufacture and distribute fentanyl-laced pills is a high priority and an essential part of attacking the opioid addiction crisis in our community. This is an incredibly dangerous drug; taking one pill can kill a person. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington intends on prosecuting every fentanyl distribution case that can be proved. I commend the outstanding efforts of the DEA, FBI and our state and local law enforcement partners who investigated this case.” 

Today’s enforcement action is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation.  The OCDETF program provides supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved in the investigation of drug-related crimes.  This OCDETF investigation is being conducted by the DEA and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This case was investigated by the DEA Tri Cities Task Force in partnership with the Kennewick, Pasco and Richland Police Departments. This case was prosecuted by Stephanie Van Marter, an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.