Arizona Cocaine Suppliers Sentenced

     PHOENIX – This week, Pedro Rafael Gonzalez-Zazueta, 39, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 88 months’ imprisonment.  Gonzalez-Zazueta had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

     On Oct. 16, 2016, Eduardo Robles Luzania, 41, of Avondale, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 108 months’ imprisonment.  Luzania had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

     On Sept. 19, 2016, David Lee Richardson, 53, of Gilbert, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 36 months’ imprisonment.  Richardson had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine.

Beginning in 2013, Gonzalez-Zazueta supplied kilograms of cocaine to California and Arizona.  One of his customers was arrested in California in December of 2013.

     After the California customer was arrested, Gonzalez-Zazueta began to distribute cocaine to Phoenix area residents, including Richardson and Luzania, between the spring of 2014 and the summer of 2015.  Richardson and Luzania then used a courier to transport this cocaine from Arizona to Alabama.  After this cocaine was transported to Alabama, Gonzalez-Zazueta received payment for it in Arizona.

     As part of this investigation, agents determined that Luzania laundered more than $145,000 in drug proceeds and also attempted to ship methamphetamine to Pennsylvania through the U.S. mail.  In addition, during a search of Gonzalez-Zazueta’s residence, agents seized a firearm and approximately $417,000 in U.S. currency.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by a collaborative team consisting of multiple agencies, including Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, the Salt River Police Department, and the Apache Junction Police Department. The prosecution was handled by D. J. Pashayan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:      CR-15-1548-PHX-DJH; CR-15-1571-PHX-SRB; CR-16-219-PHX-DLR

RELEASE NUMBER:    2016-096_Gonzalez-Zazueta

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

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