Vanessa R. Waldref U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington
Richland, Washington – Two men involved in drug trafficking across Eastern Washington have been sentenced to federal prison. Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced Angel Ramon Barajas-Zarate, 26, from Colima, Mexico, to 132 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Hector Sanchez-Mendez, 42, from Oaxaca, Mexico, received a sentence of 72 months in prison and five years of supervised release.
Court documents revealed that in February 2022, investigators found that Barajas-Zarate used the United States Postal Service to distribute large quantities of controlled substances such as fentanyl-laced pills and methamphetamine. Sanchez-Mendez managed a drug stash house for Barajas-Zarate.
On December 14, 2022, search warrants were executed at three homes and several vehicles in Richland. In the stash house attic operated by Sanchez-Mendez, authorities discovered 45 pounds of methamphetamine being packaged for sale and located 13 firearms around the house. Searches of Barajas-Zarate’s truck uncovered large bags of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl-laced pills prepared for distribution.
The operation led by the FBI and local law enforcement resulted in the seizure of over 100,000 fentanyl-laced pills (including pink and rainbow-colored), more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately one kilogram of cocaine, $15,000 in U.S. currency, money counters typically used by banks for counting cash, over 20 firearms along with significant ammunition supplies.
“This case serves as a powerful reminder that those who engage in trafficking dangerous drugs will be held accountable,” stated Acting United States Attorney Richard Barker. “Our office will continue to work tirelessly to protect our district from individuals who profit from devastation caused to Eastern Washington communities.”
W. Mike Herrington from the FBI’s Seattle field office added: “Putting a stop to these two men’s crimes may have saved countless lives.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Southeast Washington Safe Streets Task Force alongside multiple local law enforcement agencies including Benton County Sheriff’s Office among others with assistance from DEA and U.S Border Patrol under prosecution led by Assistant U.S Attorney Stephanie Van Marter.
