An Arizona man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his involvement in a fentanyl trafficking operation. Jose Ruben Leyva, aged 46 and from Phoenix, was found guilty of mailing controlled substances to Ohio using the U.S. Postal Service.
Court documents reveal that between April and October 2023, Leyva sent at least seven parcels containing narcotics to drug traffickers in Columbus. Among the recipients was Ontario M. Yarbrough, a 26-year-old resident of Columbus. On October 11 and 12, authorities intercepted two packages containing nearly 500 grams of fentanyl each.
Yarbrough operated a drug house in the Hilltop area of Columbus. During this six-month period, he received five packages and tracked over a dozen from Arizona to his location. These parcels were accepted at various locations throughout the city.
A search warrant executed at Yarbrough's residence uncovered almost 500 grams of fentanyl within one package, alongside ten bags of white powder, firearms with ammunition, cash, and drug trafficking materials.
Subsequent searches at Leyva's home in Arizona revealed pills and powder containing fentanyl, firearms, packaging supplies, other drug paraphernalia, and cash.
Both defendants entered guilty pleas in June and July of 2024. Yarbrough received a sentence of approximately 11 years in November 2024.
The sentencing announcement was made by Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Lesley Allison from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division; along with officials from the Ohio HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Damoun Delaviz under U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison.
