Phoenix Man Charged After Seizure of 178,000 Suspected Fentanyl Pills, Guns, and Other Drugs
Fentanyl pills & powder, meth, heroin and firearms seized.
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Marco Antonio Medina, 29, of Phoenix, Arizona, was charged last week via criminal complaint with three counts of possession of controlled substances for distribution and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Medina was arrested on May 2 and had his initial appearance in federal court last Wednesday.
The complaint alleges three violations of United States law related to Medina’s intended distribution of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin and one violation of United States law related to Medina’s possession of a handgun. It further alleges that, on May 2, 2022, Medina was observed participating in a suspected drug transaction in Phoenix, Arizona. United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and Task Force Officers later determined that a car Medina had been driving contained 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 16,000 pills that are suspected to contain fentanyl. Medina was also in possession of a handgun on his person, and three other firearms were found in the vehicle. A subsequent search of Medina’s apartment led to the seizure of approximately 16.2 kilograms of pills suspected to contain fentanyl (approximately 162,000 pills), over 3.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, over one kilogram of powdered fentanyl, and nearly half a kilogram of heroin. Medina is a convicted felon and, at the time of his arrest, had three outstanding felony warrants for his arrest.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The DEA is conducting the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Goodyear Police Department. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also assisted by investigating the seized firearms. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 22-8138MJ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-065_Medina
