Yvette Porras-Ochoa, 42, of Wittmann, Arizona, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for her role as the leader of a significant drug trafficking organization, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced today.
Porras-Ochoa pleaded guilty in August to several charges, including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute prescription-controlled substances such as oxycodone and promethazine-codeine, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
As the head of the operation, Porras-Ochoa orchestrated the distribution of large quantities of cocaine and prescription drugs. She used fraudulent means to obtain prescription drugs by exploiting the authorization of an Arizona-licensed medical practitioner, who allowed her to prescribe controlled substances. Porras-Ochoa then recruited individuals to pick up the drugs from Arizona pharmacies and sold them, along with cocaine, to out-of-state customers.
To avoid detection and facilitate the flow of illicit money, Porras-Ochoa engaged in sophisticated money laundering tactics, including real estate transactions. Authorities uncovered a substantial amount of illicit drugs tied to her operation during the investigation, which lasted over a year and a half.
Seized drugs included 884.2 grams of oxycodone, 33,330 units of promethazine-codeine, 4,690 units of alprazolam, 27,200 units of tramadol, 63,900 units of midazolam, and 2.96 kilograms of cocaine. This case was part of a broader investigation led by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), a federal initiative aimed at dismantling high-level drug traffickers and criminal organizations.
Porras-Ochoa’s sentencing reflects the serious consequences of orchestrating drug trafficking operations that threaten communities across the U.S.