Jose Mendez-Alvarado, a 39-year-old Fort Smith resident, has been sentenced to 12.5 years in federal prison for his role in a massive methamphetamine trafficking operation in the Fort Smith area.
The sentences were handed down by the Honorable Chief Judge P.K. Holmes, III in the United States District Court in Fort Smith, marking the culmination of a multi-agency investigation that spanned several months.
According to court records, in November 2014, law enforcement in Fort Smith learned that large quantities of methamphetamine were being distributed in the area by Mendez-Alvarado and his associates. Over the course of the next several months, investigators conducted six separate controlled purchases from Mendez-Alvarado and his associates.
In early June 2015, Mendez-Alvarado traveled to California to pick up a large amount of methamphetamine and bring it back to Fort Smith for distribution. On his way back from California in mid-June, Mendez-Alvarado was stopped for a traffic violation in Fort Smith and approximately 11 pounds of methamphetamine was seized by law enforcement.
Mendez-Alvarado’s sentencing comes on the heels of 12 other defendants being sentenced to federal prison for their roles in the same drug trafficking organization. The list of sentenced defendants includes:
- Armando Picazo, age 30 of Fort Smith, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release on each of two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute More than 50 Grams of Actual Methamphetamine, Aiding and Abetting. The sentences will run concurrent with each other.
- Ascencion Salas-Macias, age 31, of Fort Smith, was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release for Possession with Intent to Distribute More than 50 Grams of Actual Methamphetamine, Aiding and Abetting
- Amber Nicole Cottrell, age 28 of Fort Smith, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Casey Allen Cottrell, age 31, of Fort Smith, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine
- John Wayne Davis, age 41, of Cabot, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Aris Orellana, age 29, of Fort Smith, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Erick Padilla, age 35, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Maria D. Jesus Martinez, age 33, of Fort Smith, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Joseph Glenn Kutter, age 31 of Van Buren, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Jose Quinones, age 37, of Fort Smith, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Melinda Sue Quinones, age 39, of Fort Smith, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison and two years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Noel Ramirez-Osorio, age 31, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Roxana Cardona, age 32, of Revere, Massachusetts, was sentenced to (awaiting information)
The investigation was led by the Fort Smith Police Department with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Arkansas State Police, and the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Elser.
Judge Holmes praised the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation, saying ‘This sentencing is a testament to the hard work and dedication of law enforcement agencies in the Western District of Arkansas. Today’s sentencing serves as a reminder to those who would engage in the illicit trafficking of methamphetamine that the consequences will be severe.’
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas is committed to disrupting and dismantling the flow of narcotics in the region, and we will continue to work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice.’
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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Key Facts
- State: Arkansas
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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