DAYTON, Ohio – The lead of eight defendants convicted in a narcotics conspiracy was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 168 months in prison. The drug trafficking organization’s operations stretched from the Mexican border and the western United States to the Southern District of Ohio.
Clemente Quezada, 39, of Fairborn, Ohio, was one of eight individuals indicted in June 2021 in a narcotics conspiracy involving at least 14 kilograms of fentanyl destined for resale in Clark, Greene, Hamilton and Montgomery counties.
According to court documents, between December 2020 until June 2021, the defendants used a network of sellers in southern Ohio to distribute kilogram quantities of opioids from supply sources in Mexico and the western United States. The co-conspirators used a series of properties throughout southern Ohio to process, store, and distribute controlled substances and their resulting cash proceeds.
As part of the conspiracy, one defendant, under the guise of her profession as a truck driver, transported thousands of dollars in cash to sources of drug supply in Mexico and the western United States.
Co-defendant Edson Cruz-Medina was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in prison.
Kenneth L, Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Kent Kleinschmidt, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Richard S. Fambro; and Miami County Sheriff Dave Duchak announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose. Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi and Assistant United States Attorney Amy M. Smith are representing the United States in this case.
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