Arizona Man Admits to Leading Major Drug Trafficking Ring

A Phoenix resident has pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including violating the federal “Kingpin” statute, for heading a large-scale drug trafficking network known as the Monarrez Drug Trafficking Organization.

The backstory:

Between September and November 2022, 55-year-old Marcos Monarrez-Mendoza secured large quantities of methamphetamine, millions of fentanyl pills, and kilograms of cocaine from a Mexican drug supplier. He built a distribution network that moved these drugs across the U.S., targeting states like Arizona, Washington, Minnesota, Kansas, Indiana, and Western Pennsylvania. He also paid couriers to handle transportation and delivery.

Federal investigators identified his son, Monarrez Jr., as a co-leader of the operation. He was among 35 people charged in a Second Superseding Indictment unsealed in January 2024. Authorities used a federal wiretap to reveal that Monarrez-Mendoza paid more than $100,000 from drug profits to couriers who funneled the money back to Mexico to support the trafficking network.

What’s next:

Monarrez-Mendoza also admitted to operating a continuing criminal enterprise and laundering money. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Pennsylvania is prosecuting the case. His sentencing is scheduled for December 5, 2025, where he faces 20 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $2 million, or both.

Dig deeper:

Out of the 35 individuals indicted in the case, 23 have now been convicted. Six people from Phoenix have already been sentenced, and ten more from Arizona have entered guilty pleas.

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