Courier for Drug-Trafficking Ring Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Transporting Drug Proceeds to Mexico

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Verenys Parra Arellanez, 23, of San Bernardino, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. to three years in prison for conspiring to distribute heroin, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Parra Arellanez transported money to Mexico from the sale of heroin in the Eastern District of California. In total, Parra Arellanez took almost $300,000 in drug proceeds to Mexico.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Todd A. Pickles prosecuted the case.

Parra Arellanez is the latest defendant to be sentenced as part of the DEA’s investigation of a drug-trafficking ring centered in Sacramento and Bakersfield that distributed heroin and methamphetamine throughout the Eastern District. To date, 12 defendants have been sentenced to a combined 69.5 years of incarceration.

Charges are pending against co-defendants Maria D. Arellanez Rios, Juan Alamilla Guzman, and Jesus Ramon Machado Lopez, who are believed to be fugitives. They are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.