A Tucson man, Valentin Guizar, described as a drug ring’s workhorse, was sentenced last week to 92 months in prison last week after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and launder money.
Guizar’s co-conspirator, Luis Alfonso Acuna, failed to appear for his sentencing hearing on July 11, 2018, and now has a warrant out for his arrest.
Another co-conspirator, Francisco Espinoza-Flores, is also a fugitive.
Acuna, a Sunnyside High School graduate, and Alfredo Acuna-Noriega were the leaders of the drug ring.
According to his plea agreement, Guizar used the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to mail parcels of cocaine to various East Coast destinations. Between August 2015 and April 2016, Guizar sent 29 such parcels to North Carolina and Florida. Guizar also laundered over $13,000 in narcotics proceeds.
Guizar’s sentencing followed other recent, related hearings in which Adan Antonio Alvarez, 40, of Tucson, was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment. David Galvan Haro, 47, of Tucson, was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment. Seven other defendants convicted in the case for various drug trafficking and money laundering crimes received sentences ranging from probation to 12 months’ imprisonment.
According to the court documents:
Luis Acuna entrusted Guizar to ship cocaine and methamphetamine to the east coast on many occasions and Alfredo Acuna-Noriega had him facilitate a multi-kilogram deal at the Sam Levitz parking lot in Tucson.”
Guizar was also substantially involved in the money laundering aspect of the conspiracy.
He used his bank account to funnel drug proceeds as well as collecting drug proceeds from
others for Luis Acuna. In addition, Alfonso Acuna-Noriega directed him to deliver $7,000
to Erika Moreno at Texas Roadhouse in Tucson. Furthermore, Guizar sold an ounce of
cocaine to an undercover office in Tucson and stated that he could sell much larger quantities.