PHOENIX, Ariz. — A local area woman was sentenced Dec. 2, to 180 months in prison for drug trafficking and money laundering. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), DEA, the United States Postal Service, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and Phoenix Police Department conducted the investigation in this case.
“Drug trafficking and money laundering are not just about breaking the law, but about unraveling a network of crime that harms communities and destroys lives as well as undermines our sacred banking system,” said HSI Arizona Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola. “Not only are we stronger when we work alongside our partner law enforcement agencies, we are also able to send a clear message to those seeking to evade us — and that message is, we will find you and you will pay for your crimes.”
Yvette Porras-Ochoa, 42, of Wittmann, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Cocaine, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Prescription Controlled Substances Oxycodone and Promethazine-Codeine, and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering Aug. 22.
Porras-Ochoa was the head of an Arizona-based drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing large quantities of cocaine and prescription drugs. To fraudulently obtain the prescription drugs, Porras-Ochoa used an Arizona-licensed medical practitioner’s authorization to prescribe controlled substances and recruited others to pick up prescription drugs from Arizona-based pharmacies. After receiving the prescription drugs, she sold them, as well as cocaine, to out-of-state customers. Porras-Ochoa arranged payment for the drugs in a variety of sophisticated ways so as to avoid detection and subsequently laundered some of the drug proceeds through real estate transactions.
During a year-and-a-half long investigation, investigators were able to seize several large loads of drugs connected with Porras-Ochoa and confirm her involvement in the distribution of 884.2 grams of oxycodone, 33,330 units of promethazine-codeine, 4,690 units of alprazolam, 27,200 units of tramadol, 63,900 units of midazolam, and 2.96 kilograms of cocaine.
This investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
In other words, OCDETF is a holistic approach to prosecuting organized crime. Deterrent criminal justice sentences are only a part of the District of Arizona’s strategy to dismantle criminal entities. Sometimes, as here, it includes coordination with state and local partners. On other occasions it involves the use of sensitive investigative techniques like court-authorized interceptions of communications, or responsible use of civil and criminal asset forfeiture to disgorge illicit gains, or extradition of leadership from foreign nations, or collaboration with federal regulatory entities like the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the Office of Foreign Assets Control.