Three individuals have been convicted in federal court for their involvement in a drug distribution conspiracy linked to a transnational criminal organization, according to an announcement from Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti. The case is part of a broader investigation that charged 35 people with domestic and international narcotics and money laundering offenses involving large amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine.
Carlos Zamora of Phoenix, Arizona, and Bryce Hill of Seattle, Washington, were found guilty by a jury after a two-and-a-half-week trial before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Jesus Ramirez, also from Phoenix, pleaded guilty during the trial.
“These convictions are a testament to the collaborative efforts of law enforcement officers from multiple agencies throughout the country,” said Acting United States Attorney Rivetti. “Refusing to be bound by borders, law enforcement disrupted the deadly flow of fentanyl into western Pennsylvania by aggressively targeting conspirators in Phoenix, Seattle, Mexico, and elsewhere. This multi-year investigation enabled the seizure of millions of fentanyl tablets, the largest quantities ever obtained through an investigation based in western Pennsylvania.”
FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek stated: “These convictions send a clear message: those who think they can profit from the deadly flow of drugs and endanger lives in our community will be held accountable. The dangerous reality of large-scale drug trafficking organizations isn’t just about peddling huge quantities of poison – it’s also the violence they bring. The FBI and our partners stand fully committed to fighting for the protection of our neighborhoods.”
Deputy Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Nathan Abel added: “Today’s verdict affirms what our investigators have worked so hard to prove: those who smuggle poison like fentanyl into the United States, endanger our families, and bankroll violence will face swift and severe consequences. While no verdict can replace the lives already lost to this crisis, it brings a measure of justice to the victims and a measure of safety to the public. HSI Philadelphia remains steadfast in pursuing every lead, freezing every illicit dollar, and bringing every offender to court until the flow of these deadly drugs is stopped.”
Evidence presented at trial showed that Hill and Zamora were members of the Monarrez Drug Trafficking Organization based in Phoenix. This group distributed millions of fentanyl pills as well as significant quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine between August 2021 and June 2023. Law enforcement intercepted communications indicating both men acquired large amounts of narcotics for redistribution nationwide—including western Pennsylvania.
The investigation included searches resulting in seizures such as 27 kilograms of fentanyl pills, firearms, and $387,000 cash from Hill’s apartment; an intercepted call involving Zamora discussing a drive-by shooting; as well as further seizures totaling 28 kilograms of fentanyl pills along with other drugs and weapons at a property in Scottsdale.
Hill and Zamora were convicted on charges including conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Ramirez pleaded guilty on September 17 to related but lesser charges.
Sentencing dates for Hill and Zamora have not been set; Ramirez is scheduled for sentencing on January 20 next year. Hill and Zamora face mandatory minimum sentences starting at ten years up to life imprisonment with fines up to $10 million each; Ramirez faces five years up to forty years imprisonment with fines up to $5 million.
These three convictions add to those already secured against 29 co-defendants involved in this operation.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Arnold P. Bernard Jr., Tonya S. Goodman, and Katherine C. Jordan.
The case was investigated by several agencies including FBI’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with support from IRS–Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), local police departments such as Scottsdale Police Department among others.
This effort forms part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated resources from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
