Mexican National Extradited to the United States to Face Drug Trafficking Charges

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN - U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Adrian Weyman-Urbina (37) of Ensenada, Mexico was extradited to the United States to face drug trafficking charges.

Eight others were previously convicted as part of the drug trafficking conspiracy charged here, which involved current and former inmates of the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) obtaining methamphetamine and heroin from Mexico and distributing the drugs in West Michigan and elsewhere. The conspiracy spanned eleven counties in Michigan, including Alger, Luce, Allegan, Berrien, Branch, Grand Traverse, Ingham, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, and Van Buren Counties. Further details of the investigation are available in the April 19, 2021 press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office (available at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmi/pr/2021_0420_Operation_Prison_Break) and the criminal complaints filed in United States v. Luis Alberto Cruz, No. 1:20-mj-00145 and United States v. Carlos Martinez, No. 1:20-mj-179.

"My office went the extra mile to extradite Weyman-Urbina out of Mexico because he set up his drug distribution network while he was in our country illegally, then continued to harm our citizens after he was returned to Mexico. Let this be a message that wherever you are in the world, if you are responsible for the distribution of drugs in the Western District of Michigan, we will find you, arrest you, and bring you to justice in an American courtroom," stated U.S. Attorney VerHey. "We look forward to proving this defendant's involvement in the conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt."

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime

The Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Michigan Department of Corrections, the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office, and the Michigan State Police and its sponsored drug trafficking task forces, including the West Michigan Enforcement Team, the Southwest Enforcement Team, and the Traverse Narcotics Team investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vito S. Solitro.

The charges in the indictment are merely accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.