Francisco Ruellas-Gonzalez, Fentanyl Trafficking, Ohio 2024

A pair of Columbus residents have been sentenced to 10 years in prison for their roles in a massive fentanyl trafficking operation.

According to court documents, Francisco Ruellas-Gonzalez, 31, and Jaime Renteria, 33, used a residence on Clearhurst Drive as a drug stash house in 2022 and 2023.

The apartment had minimal furnishings and no electricity, but law enforcement officers discovered a stash of illicit substances when they executed search warrants at the two residences and on the defendants themselves and their vehicles.

The discovery included approximately 448 grams of methamphetamine, 751 grams of fentanyl and/or a fentanyl analogue, 226 grams of heroin, and 12 grams of cocaine.

Ruellas-Gonzalez pleaded guilty in November 2023 to possessing with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 10 grams or more of fentanyl analogue.

Renteria pleaded guilty in August 2023 to possessing with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of fentanyl analogue, and 100 grams or more of heroin.

Both defendants have prior federal drug trafficking convictions. Ruellas-Gonzalez was sentenced in 2018 to serve 24 months in prison and was deported to Mexico for the fourth time.

Renteria was sentenced in 2018 to 46 months in prison and was released early under the First Step Act in January 2022.

The investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.

U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. imposed the sentences.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/repeat-offenders-sentenced-10-years-prison-narcotics-crimes