Illegal Alien Sentenced to 35 Years for Spearheading International and Multi-State Methamphetamine Drug Trafficking Organization from Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY – Cesar Alzuarte-Rodriguez, 43, an illegal alien from Mexico, has been sentenced to serve a federal prison term of 420 months for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and spearheading an international and multi-state drug trafficking organization, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing. Alzuarte is the latest of 23 defendants sentenced in federal court so far, with a collective total sentence of 168 years in prison.

According to an Indictment filed on March 17, 2018, and the Superseding Indictment on June 5, 2018, Alzuarte-Rodriguez (Alzuarte) and other defendants were charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, maintaining drug involved premises, and felons and illegal aliens in possession of a firearms and money laundering. The Indictment alleged that Alzuarte was the head of an organization that illegally imported methamphetamine from Mexico through sources of supply in Arizona, Colorado, and California. The organization maintained houses in Oklahoma City where methamphetamine was brought and stored for re-distribution. When Alzuarte and other co-defendants were arrested on March 8, 2018, agents to that date had seized 248 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $1,000,000, more than $275,000 in cash, and 10 firearms.

On March 4, 2019, Alzuarte pleaded guilty to the drug conspiracy. Alzuarte further agreed to forfeit the aforementioned firearms and cash, a house located on 639 SE 10^th Street used in the drug trafficking enterprise, and multiple vehicles used by his drug trafficking organization.

On August 26, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Scott L. Palk sentenced Alzuarte to serve 35 years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release following his release from prison. In announcing Alzuarte’s sentence, Judge Palk emphasized Mr. Alzuarte’s illegal alien status, his leadership of a multi-state and international methamphetamine trafficking organization, and the large amount of “poison” Alzuarte pumped into impacted communities.

Twenty-two of Alzuarte’s co-defendants in the drug trafficking enterprise have already been sentenced:

Miguel Berzosa-Flores, Age 52, was sentenced to 168 months in prison, on February 4, 2020.
Federico Rios-Aranda, Age 46, was sentenced to 144 months in prison, on October 17, 2019.
Monica Bojorquez, Age 38, was sentenced to 84 months on in prison, on February 20, 2020.
Armando Herrera-Garcia, Age 38, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, on September 25, 2019.
Mayra Medina, Age 36, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, on August 6, 2019.
Elias Sotelo-Tena, Age 26, was sentenced to 3 years of probation on August 20, 2019.
Albino Gonzalez-Gandarilla, Age 43, was sentenced to 156 months in prison, on June 10, 2020.
Enoc Ricado-Santiago, Age 21, was sentenced to 96 months in prison, on October 16, 2019.
Guillermo Cardona-Figueroa, Age 24, was sentenced to 37 months in prison, on August 1, 2019.
Christian McKinney, Age 23, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, on September 5, 2019.
Carlos Estrada-Mojarro, Age 22, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, on September 9, 2019.
Luis Vega Maldonado, Age 41, was sentenced to 144 months in prison, on January 10, 2020.
Jesus Manuel-Lopez, Age 24, was sentenced to 204 months in prison, on August 12, 2019.
Erik Osualdo Montelongo, Age 36, was sentenced to 30 months in prison, on December 10, 2019.
Zephyran Shawn Hayes, Age 41, was sentenced to 180 months in prison, on August 6, 2019.
Jeremy Wright, Age 42, was sentenced to 120 months in prison, on June 20, 2019.
Brandon Ramirez-Garcia, Age 23, was sentenced to 108 months in prison, on June 12, 2020.
Jazmine Altamarino, Age 48, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, on November 19, 2019.
Mayra Cabello-Tierablanca, Age 32, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, on August 7, 2019.
Kyle Shropshire, Age 46, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison, on September 12, 2019.
Jessica Lissette Mar, Age 28, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, on August 15, 2019.
Angel Ricardo Gonzalez-Martinez, Age 29, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, on August 12, 2019.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Oklahoma City District Office, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Denver, San Diego, and Phoenix Field Division Offices, City of Edmond Police Department, City of Norman Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigations Division, Canadian County Sheriff’s Department, Homeland Security Investigations Oklahoma City Office, District 21 Task Force, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and DEA offices in Tulsa and McAlester. Assistant United States Attorney David Petermann prosecuted the case.

Reference is made to court filings for further information. To download a photo of U.S. Attorney Downing, click here.

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