[ad_1]
NORRISTOWN — An Arizona man admitted to participating in a scheme to transport a large quantity of fentanyl to the Upper Merion area, enough to put more than 166,000 individual doses on the local streets.
Jorge Valdez-Rosas, 23, of San Luis, Arizona, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 3 to 6 years in a state correctional facility after he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of possession with intent to deliver fentanyl in connection with incidents that occurred between January and February of 2023.
Judge Steven T. O’Neill imposed the sentence as part of a negotiated plea agreement.
An investigation began in January 2023 when law enforcement received information that a drug trafficking organization operating in both Mexico and the U.S. was in the process of smuggling kilogram quantities of fentanyl from Mexico into the U.S., including a destination along First Avenue in the King of Prussia section of Upper Merion, according to court papers.
“This investigation involved numerous methods to include electronic surveillance to capture communications of persons involved in a conspiracy to import and deliver large quantities of fentanyl into the United States, which included Jorge Valdez-Rosas,” county detectives wrote in a criminal complaint, adding investigators learned Valdez-Rosas traveled to the county in possession of kilogram quantities of fentanyl.
On Jan. 31, county, Upper Merion and federal authorities established surveillance in the area of the 1100 block of First Avenue and observed Valdez-Rosas arrive at the location in possession of a large duffle bag, according to the criminal complaint.
After overnight surveillance, on Feb. 1 investigators observed Valdez-Rosas exit a property there in possession of a large duffle bag and at that time he was approached by authorities.
A search of Valdez-Rosas’ duffle bag resulted in the seizure of five kilograms of fentanyl, detectives said.
“A search of Jorge Valdez-Rosas’ cellular phone revealed that he was utilizing the device in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities, specifically to orchestrate a meeting where he was supposed to deliver the fentanyl to a third party, on behalf of others,” detectives alleged.
Based on their training and experience, detectives said five kilograms of fentanyl “is a significant quantity of drugs.”
“This quantity of drugs equates to approximately 166,666 individual doses of fentanyl which could ultimately result in significant fatal overdoses,” detectives alleged.
Court documents do not indicate if others were charged in connection with the scheme.
Other charges of criminal use of a communication facility and conspiracy to engage in drug trafficking were dismissed against Valdez-Rosas as part of the plea agreement.
[ad_2]
Source_link
