Tucson Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Importing Fentanyl

TUCSON, Ariz. – Gerardo Hernandez, 40, of Tucson, was sentenced on November 2, 2023, by United States District Judge Jennifer Zipps to 120 months in prison, followed by 36 months supervised release. Hernandez pleaded guilty on May 5, 2023, to Importation of Fentanyl.

On December 4, 2022, Hernandez, a United States citizen, entered the United States at the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, from Mexico. He was a passenger in the front seat of a vehicle that contained 49.9 kilograms of fentanyl concealed inside the vehicle. Hernandez was aware that the vehicle contained controlled substances and agreed to import them into the United States. The driver of the vehicle was unaware that they were importing controlled substances. Hernandez has 11 prior felony convictions and six prior misdemeanor convictions since 2002. 

The fentanyl Hernandez imported was in 30 milligram tablets. Forty-nine kilograms is approximately 1,600,000 tablets or single use doses of fentanyl.

The Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Cavanaugh, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
 

CASE NUMBER:            CR 22-2775-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER:    2023-172_Hernandez

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