Texas Man Sentenced to 6.5 Years for Spice Trafficking

A Texas man has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison for trafficking over 21 kilograms of the synthetic cannabinoid Spice from Texas to Alaska.

Jacob Trujillo, 36, of San Antonio, was found guilty of sending the illicit substance to local distributors in Alaska through the mail between 2020 and 2022.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers intercepted over 21 kilograms of Spice during the investigation.

Trujillo was also accused of laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars in two separate bank accounts between January 2020 and October 2021.

The sentencing comes as a major blow to the Spice trafficking ring, which has been linked to six fatal overdoses outside the Brother Francis Shelter in Anchorage since 2015.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska praised the sentence, saying, ‘This sentence represents one of the final pieces in a joint effort to get Spice off our streets and bring justice to the culprits who brought it to our great state.’

Special Agent in Charge David F. Reames of the DEA Seattle Field Division added, ‘The sentence that Mr. Trujillo received for harming our community serves as a reminder of the seriousness with which we all take this threat.’

The DEA Anchorage Field Office and Seattle Division Office, as well as the IRS:CI Seattle Field Office, investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Schroeder prosecuting the case.

As the community continues to grapple with the devastating effects of Spice, law enforcement officials remain committed to keeping the substance off the streets and holding those responsible accountable for their actions.

Trujillo’s sentence marks a significant victory in the fight against Spice trafficking, and serves as a reminder of the severe consequences for those who choose to profit from the sale of illicit substances.

The case is a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of Spice and the importance of continued vigilance in the fight against drug trafficking.