Marco Antonio Quezada-Ramirez, Fentanyl Trafficking, Nevada 2023

LAS VEGAS – A devastating fentanyl trafficking ring has been brought to its knees, with a key player facing a decade behind bars. Marco Antonio Quezada-Ramirez, a Mexican national with a history of illegally reentering the United States, was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for his role in the trafficking of fentanyl to Nevada, Colorado, and California.

According to court documents, Marco Antonio Quezada-Ramirez admitted to being part of a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in the United States, beginning in an unknown date and continuing up to September 19, 2023. The agreement involved Quezada-Ramirez and his co-defendants selling the deadly substance to unsuspecting victims.

On June 8, 2023, Quezada-Ramirez sold approximately 600 fentanyl pills, and on July 12, 2023, he sold around 500 fentanyl pills. The following month, he received a shipment of approximately 30,000 fentanyl pills intended for resale. However, law enforcement recovered the 30,000 fentanyl pills during a traffic stop in Las Vegas, along with cocaine and heroin.

The case was investigated by the DEA and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Melanee Smith prosecuted the case, bringing the perpetrator to justice.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States, using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Deputy Special Agent in Charge Anthony Chrysanthis for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Los Angeles Division, which oversees Las Vegas, made the announcement.

As the Grimy Times continues to shed light on the dark underbelly of organized crime, one thing is clear: those who peddle death and destruction will be held accountable. Quezada-Ramirez’s sentence serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of fentanyl trafficking, and we will continue to follow this story as it unfolds.

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