Three Illegal Aliens Are Sentenced For Trafficking Kilograms Of Fentanyl

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Three men who are in the United States illegally were sentenced to prison today for trafficking kilogram amounts of fentanyl, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Javier Avila-Rivas, 24, Christian Josue Campos, 22, and Jefry Adalberto Martinez-Romero, 19, all of Honduras, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Today, Avila Rivas was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Campos was ordered to serve five years in prison and four years of supervised release. And Martinez was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release.

According to filed court documents and court proceedings, from August to September 2024, the defendants conspired to distribute kilogram quantities of fentanyl and cocaine in and around Charlotte. During the investigation, the defendants sold fentanyl to undercover law enforcement on numerous occasions. On September 5, 2024, after an undercover drug buy, law enforcement located Avila and Martinez in a vehicle. Law enforcement searched the vehicle, seizing a total of more than 1.9 kilograms of fentanyl, including 786 grams of purple fentanyl still in partial brick form; a rifle; 15 rounds of ammunition; digital scales; and $1,172 of U.S. currency.

The three men are in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

In making today's announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for their investigation of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).