Convicted Meth Kingpin Jose Bautista Andrade Sentenced to 11 Years

A notorious Mexican drug trafficker has been brought to justice after a months-long investigation by the FBI.

Jose Bautista Andrade, 46, of Mexico, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison on charges of fentanyl trafficking. The harsh sentence was handed down by Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian in the Eastern District of Washington.

According to court documents, Andrade was a major player in a large-scale drug trafficking operation that spanned the Pacific Northwest. He would regularly travel from Mexico to California to pick up shipments of drugs, which he would then store in his home and storage units in the Yakima area. From there, he would deliver the drugs to customers in Western Washington and collect payment.

The FBI conducted two controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Andrade in October and November 2023, seizing a total of four pounds of the highly addictive substance. On February 6, 2024, law enforcement agents executed search warrants at Andrade’s home and a storage unit, uncovering a staggering 84 pounds of methamphetamine, thousands of fentanyl pills, and four firearms.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Seal praised the FBI for their diligent work on the case, citing their “meticulous preparation and tenacious advocacy” in bringing Andrade to justice.

As the opioid epidemic continues to ravage communities across the country, the conviction of Jose Bautista Andrade serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of drug trafficking. The sentence of 132 months in prison is a fitting punishment for a defendant who posed a significant threat to public safety.