An Arizona man has been sentenced to 18 years in state prison after investigators determined he used a young child to conceal tens of thousands of fentanyl pills during a 2021 traffic stop.
Authorities say 57-year-old Vincent Benny Peraza was convicted on charges tied to involving a minor in a drug offense and transporting narcotics. His sentence was handed down last month in Yavapai County.
The case began in July 2021, when a sheriff’s deputy and K9 unit stopped a vehicle near Cordes Junction. Peraza was riding in the passenger seat with a 7-year-old next to him. As everyone exited the car, deputies noticed the child was holding a backpack he said belonged to Peraza. Inside, officers found roughly 23,000 fentanyl pills — an amount large enough to pose a deadly risk even with minimal exposure.
Investigators later determined Peraza had been given the backpack and a cellphone and told to wait at a nearby gas station for further instructions. He was reportedly offered $1,000 for participating.
Law enforcement agencies across Arizona have repeatedly warned about the dangers of fentanyl trafficking and the growing number of cases involving children. Background on statewide fentanyl trends can be found via the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission.
Peraza will serve his sentence in the Arizona Department of Corrections.
