Lead Defendant Sentenced To Over 11 Years In Prison For Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy

LAS VEGAS – An Arizona resident was sentenced Tuesday by United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva to 135 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Mateo Vailon-Ramirez, aka Juan De Dios Yuen Felix, 38, conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine and launder monetary proceeds in Las Vegas. As part of the conspiracy, customers living in Las Vegas would place orders for methamphetamine with Vailon-Ramirez who lived in Arizona. Vailon-Ramirez would dispatch couriers to deliver the methamphetamine to these customers. In November 2020, during the execution of a search warrant at a residence in Las Vegas that was utilized by Vailon-Ramirez as a stash house, law enforcement recovered approximately 6.59 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Vailon-Ramirez further admitted that he directed couriers to deliver the money from the sale of the drugs to Claudia Perez-Contreras who worked at a money service business in Las Vegas. He directed Perez-Contreras to wire the cash proceeds to individuals in Mexico.

Vailon-Ramirez pleaded guilty in July 2023 to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance-Methamphetamine and money laundering conspiracy.

Six co-conspirators have been sentenced or await sentencing:

• Jasmin Arredondo pleaded guilty and sentencing is set for January 18, 2024;
• Maria Baltazar pleaded guilty and was sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release;
• Miguel Felix-Valdez pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 63 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release;
• Rey Munoz-Ambrocio pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 84 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release;
• Claudia Perez-Contreras pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year in prison and two years of supervised release; and
• Francisco Tostado pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 48 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

Co-conspirator Wanda Soliai is currently in RISE Court and co-conspirator Christina Vasquez has successfully completed RISE Court. RISE (Recovery, Inspiration, Support & Excellence) is a pre-adjudication court-led initiative involving a comprehensive substance abuse use disorder program.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kevin Adams of the DEA Las Vegas District Office made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the DEA and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Melanee Smith prosecuted the case.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States, using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

If you are aware of controlled substance violations in your community — which may include the growing, manufacture, distribution or trafficking of controlled substances — please submit your anonymous tip through the DEA Tip Line at https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip.

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