A Mexican national has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy tied to Arizona.
Daniel Roberto Auz-Vasquez, 28, of Imuris, Sonora, was sentenced Dec. 5 to 78 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps also imposed a mandatory $100 special assessment.
According to court records, Auz-Vasquez and several co-conspirators were arrested in Phoenix on July 1, 2024, after investigators determined they were in possession of roughly 100 pounds of methamphetamine. Prosecutors said the drugs were intended for delivery to another individual later that evening.
The case was investigated under the Homeland Security Task Force, a federal initiative launched through an executive order aimed at dismantling criminal cartels, transnational gangs and drug trafficking organizations operating in the United States. The task force brings together federal, state and local agencies to coordinate investigations and target high-level criminal activity tied to organized networks.
Authorities said the Tucson-led investigation involved agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
Federal officials say the task force model allows law enforcement to more aggressively pursue large-scale drug conspiracies and remove individuals involved in violent or organized criminal activity. Additional information about federal prosecutions in Arizona is available through the U.S. Department of Justice at justice.gov.
