Patrick Pina, a convicted drug trafficker, who spent two months on the run, will spend 17 years and 6 months in prison. Pina, age 44, absconded during his trial just before a jury found him guilty of the Sale of Dangerous Drugs, Money Laundering, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Marijuana.
In October 2016, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office sought the public’s assistance in locating Pina. Two months later, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office arrested Pina at a home in Peoria, AZ.
In March 2016, MCSO conducted an undercover purchase of a half-ounce of methamphetamine from Pina at his home in Whitman, AZ. After the purchase, MCSO obtained and served a search warrant at Pina’s home. When MCSO arrived at the house, Pina ran into the house. A barricade situation occurred but soon the defendant came out. Deputies found a crystalline substance in the toilet along with rolling papers in the bathroom. On the floor of the bathroom was more methamphetamine next to an open container.
Deputies also found two small scales, two large scales, packaging baggies, a ledger, a gun, and marijuana.