TUCSON, Ariz. – A Nogales, Mexico man, Anastacio Alvarez-Lion, was sentenced to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release on Thursday after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine and to illegal reentry after removal.
According to the Department of Justice, the investigation into the case revealed that Alvarez-Lion operated as an “arete” (trusted supervisor) for a Mexican based drug trafficking organization (DTO). Alvarez-Lion served as a guide and supervisor for a group of Mexican nationals who transported narcotics into the United States by means of backpacks.
Alvarez-Lion was arrested on June 30, 2020 in Tucson after delivering a load of narcotics to a trusted courier. Agents arrested Alvarez-Lion in a vehicle that had three backpacks containing approximately 1.46 kilograms of cocaine, 342.5 grams of heroin, and 19.19 kilograms of methamphetamine, as well as a loaded handgun magazine.