Eduardo Arellano-Sanchez, Heroin and Fentanyl Trafficking, Kansas 2019

A California man pleaded guilty to federal charges after officers found over 9 pounds of fentanyl and over 8 pounds of heroin in his car during a traffic stop in Kansas.

Eduardo Arellano-Sanchez, 24, of Cathedral City, California, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate travel in furtherance of drug trafficking and one count of using a cell phone in furtherance of drug trafficking.

The guilty plea was entered in federal court in Wichita, Kansas. According to the plea agreement, Arellano-Sanchez admitted that on August 21, 2019, he was stopped by officers in Thomas County, Kansas, who found the large quantity of fentanyl and heroin in his car.

At the time of the traffic stop, Arellano-Sanchez was using his cell phone to navigate to a drug transaction that was set to take place in New York. Prosecutors are recommending a sentence of 96 months in federal prison, which is approximately 8 years.

The case was investigated by the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak. U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister commended the agencies involved in the case for their work in bringing the defendant to justice.

Sentencing is set for February 16, 2021. Eduardo Arellano-Sanchez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1 million for each count. The exact amount of fines will be determined by the court at sentencing.

Arellano-Sanchez is currently in custody and will remain there until his sentencing hearing. The case is a reminder of the ongoing threat of heroin and fentanyl trafficking in the United States and the importance of law enforcement efforts to combat it.

The federal charges against Eduardo Arellano-Sanchez are a serious offense and carry significant penalties. The guilty plea is a significant step towards bringing the defendant to justice and holding him accountable for his actions.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ks/pr/plea-california-man-drove-heroin-fentanyl-kansas-1