On November 16, 2023, a Yavapai County jury found a Tucson man, Abisai Urias, guilty of transporting 40 pounds of methamphetamine, as well as possessing anabolic steroids for sale, and possessing a firearm during a drug offense.
Yavapai County Attorney Dennis McGrane thanked the jury for their careful consideration of the facts.
“I commend the Cottonwood Police department for their excellent investigation, which resulted in the removal of 40 pounds of methamphetamine and an illegally possessed handgun from our county,” McGrane stated. “Methamphetamine ruins lives, and drives all sorts of other crime in our community. This crime was particularly egregious because of the very large quantity of drugs involved, and the presence of a loaded handgun. My office will continue to vigorously prosecute drug dealers, and will seek lengthy prison terms in cases like this. I encourage anyone who is struggling with drug addiction, or whose loved one is addicted to drugs, to seek out the many resources that are available for treatment by going to the MATFORCE website: https://www.matforce.org/Find-Help or by calling the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration hotline at 1-800-662-4357.”
The 32-year-old Urias’ jury trial followed a May 10, 2022 traffic stop by a Cottonwood Police officer. The officer was trained to spot signs of drug trafficking, and questioned Urias, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle. Urias admitted there were steroids in the vehicle.
A subsequent search uncovered vials of anabolic steroids that Urias admitted he planned to sell, a loaded handgun in the driver’s door, and nearly forty pounds of meth hidden in a duffle bag and a dog-food bag, which Urias admitted he planned to take to a nearby city. Urias is facing between 5 and over 30 years in prison.
Urias failed to appear for trial, and anyone with information about his whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Cottonwood Police Department or their local police department.