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Raul Anchondo, Drug Trafficking, Washington 2013

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A 29-year-old Arizona man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in a wide-ranging international drug conspiracy.

Raul Anchondo was convicted in May 2013 of Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Conspiracy to Possess Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crimes & Crimes of Violence, and Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.

Judge Robert S. Lasnik also imposed five years of supervised release as part of the sentence.

This defendant was personally involved in moving large amounts of heroin and methamphetamine, drug proceeds, and military-style firearms on behalf of a violent drug cartel, said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan.

ANCHONDO was arrested in March 2012, following a lengthy investigation of the drug trafficking ring. During the investigation, agents seized multiple kilos of heroin, pounds of methamphetamine, and more than a dozen firearms, including military-style assault rifles which were bound for cartel members in Mexico.

According to records filed in the case, during the investigation, federal agents were able to interdict a shipment of a dozen weapons to Mexico, preventing high-powered firearms from crossing the border. In all, 34 people have been charged in the case. Conspiracy leader Victor Berrelleza-Verduzco was sentenced in September 2013 to 20 years in prison.

ANCHONDO ran a stash house for drugs and bulk cash in Arizona, and later became a courier, bringing multi-pound loads of methamphetamine and kilos of heroin up to Western Washington in hidden compartments of various load vehicles.

The compartments would be loaded with cash for the return trip – as much as $100,000 to $300,000 headed back to Mexico.

ANCHONDO helped pack and ship the drugs – the packages were wrapped in a distinctive way with the initials of the drug leaders in Mexico responsible for the load noted on the packaging.

‘, ‘Mandatory Facts:’: {‘Defendant/Respondent Name’: ‘Raul Anchondo’, ‘Criminal Charges’: ‘Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Conspiracy to Possess Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crimes & Crimes of Violence, and Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime’, ‘City and State’: ‘Seattle, Washington’, ‘Date’: ‘May 2013’, ‘Sentence or Outcome’: ’15 years in prison, 5 years supervised release’}, ‘Case Details:’: {‘Arrest Date’: ‘March 2012’, ‘Seized Items’: ‘Multiple kilos of heroin, pounds of methamphetamine, and more than a dozen firearms’, ‘Interdicted Shipment’: ‘A dozen weapons to Mexico’}}

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