Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison

     PHOENIX – On Dec. 3, 2018, Jose Ramon Cebreros-Sanchez, a legal permanent resident from Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 360 months in prison.  On July 17, 2018, Cebreros-Sanchez was found guilty at trial of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana. 

     In 2016, Cebreros-Sanchez obtained methamphetamine and marijuana from Mexican cartel members and, with Taiwan Huckaby, then sold the drugs in South Phoenix.  Huckaby grew up in South Phoenix and was familiar with people in the area looking for drugs.  On Aug. 25, 2016, Huckaby and another person were murdered during an attempted “drug rip” at a South Phoenix residence.  Homicide charges were filed by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

     In addition to Cebreros-Sanchez, 12 others were charged with drug and firearm-related crimes as part of this investigation:  Dondre Peart, Christopher Gray, Shanique Blair, Markie Manning, Anthony Harrison, John Harris, Jr., Jeffrey Moore, Ray Box, Jr., Jerry Cockhearn, Sr., Daniel Fulton, Benjamin Littles, and Dedrick Woods.  With the exception of Blair, all have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial and sentenced.  Blair remains a fugitive at this time.

     “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting our communities from violent crimes arising from illegally-owned guns and drugs,” stated First Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange.  “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to combat these dangers to public safety.  I would like to thank ATF, DEA, and the Phoenix Police Department for their invaluable work on this case.”

     This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Phoenix Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Lacy Cooper, Maria Gutierrez, Keith Vercauteren, and Mark Wenker, Assistant United States Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:                 CR-16-01202-PHX-DJH

RELEASE NUMBER:           2018-166_ Cebreros-Sanchez etal

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