Spokane, Washington – In a significant blow to the region’s opioid epidemic, Josue Medina-Perez, age 24, and Francisco Delgado, age 35, both from Phoenix, Arizona, were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for their roles in a fentanyl trafficking organization.
According to court documents, Medina-Perez and Delgado, both members of a drug trafficking organization tied directly to Sinaloa, Mexico, were responsible for transporting and distributing over 5,000 to 10,000 fentanyl-laced pills per week in Eastern Washington beginning in 2017.
The fentanyl-laced pills, made to appear as prescription medication, are largely responsible for the marked increase in drug overdoses and deaths in Eastern Washington, with Fentanyl being the most dangerous and insidious drug facing the community today, as noted by Senior United States District Judge Edward Shea during the sentencing hearing.
Medina-Perez was sentenced to a 96-month term of imprisonment, to be followed by a 5-year term of court supervision after release from federal prison, while Delgado received a 10-year term of imprisonment, to be followed by a 4-year term of court supervision after release from federal prison.
The investigation, led by the Spokane Resident Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration in partnership with the Kennewick, Pasco and Richland Police Departments, resulted in the prosecution of Medina-Perez and Delgado by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter.
Acting United States Attorney Joseph H. Harrington praised the investigative work of federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, stating, ‘The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington will aggressively prosecute cases involving fentanyl distribution, and the sentence imposed in this case demonstrates that fentanyl dealers will be held accountable for their illegal conduct.’
The case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, which provides supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the investigation of drug-related crimes.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration led the OCDETF investigation, highlighting the critical role of federal, state, and local partnerships in combating the opioid epidemic.
The sentencing of Medina-Perez and Delgado serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of fentanyl trafficking and the need for continued cooperation between law enforcement agencies to disrupt and dismantle these organizations.
Defendant Information:
- Defendant: Josue Medina-Perez and Francisco Delgado
- Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to Distribute 400 grams or more of Fentanyl
- City and State: Spokane, Washington
- Sentence: Medina-Perez – 96-month term of imprisonment, followed by 5-year term of court supervision; Delgado – 10-year term of imprisonment, followed by 4-year term of court supervision
Related Federal Cases
- Veronica Dittman, Fentanyl Distribution, Tempe AZ, 2023 · Iowa
- Drug Dealer Sentenced to 8 Years for Fentanyl Distribution, Yamhill… · Washington
- Lana Leshinsky, Fentanyl Distribution Resulting in Death, AZ 2024 · Washington
- John Rocha, Fentanyl Distribution, Oregon 2021 · Washington
- Dulce Maria Haros, Fentanyl Distribution, Arizona 2023 · Iowa
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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